Woolies shopper highlights a 'big problem' with checkout cameras
- Replies 35
Recently, a Woolworths customer has highlighted an issue with the AI cameras being used at Australia’s East Coast stores, and it’s a ‘big problem’ for shoppers.
A shopper named Pnuks took to social media on Friday to share details of his experience at Woolworths, where he noticed something concerning about the cameras above the checkouts.
At each checkout, customers must enter their PIN code or tap their phone when using PayPass, but as Pnuks quickly realised, the camera is positioned directly above this personal information.
'Yes, they can see every content on your phone, that’s a big problem,' he said before showing an example of how much area the camera captures of the checkout.
He believes it is enough to pick up someone’s card details.
The video garnered the interest of Woolies shoppers, with one person commenting: ‘I never thought of that. The thing saw me fumble in my bag for my phone and thought I was stealing.’
‘Same for putting in your card pin. Shouldn't be able to record that part,’ a second person said.
‘It’s an invasion of privacy; they’ve already got cameras all through the shops, and now they can see our pins,’ another shopper pointed out.
Unfortunately, this isn’t customers' only issue regarding the retailer using AI technology. Customers have complained that the cameras are being used in 'bad faith', while shoppers feel they are under constant surveillance.
The cameras were introduced to 250 stores last year to prevent shoppers from scanning the wrong or pricey items as cheaper products and to make shopping ‘more convenient and seamless’.
‘While most customers do the right thing at our self-serve check-outs, we’re all busy, and mistakes can easily happen,’ the Woolworths’s spokesperson said.
Woolworths has promised that any faces and pin pads have been blurred out and that the footage is used for training purposes.
On top of that, customers became frustrated when they learnt the trolleys had to be emptied entirely for payment to be processed.
If the trolley hadn’t been emptied fully before checking out, the screen would flash the message: 'Have you left any items in your trolley or basket? Please wait for assistance.'
We shared an article about this rollout at Woolies early this year, and our members have different opinions about these cameras.
Member @jkara5 wrote: ‘I don’t have a problem with it. If it stops people stealing and, hence, pushing prices up, it’s a good thing. Usually, you don’t have to wait more than 30 seconds for help, or you the other checkouts that are manned.’
‘I don’t have a problem with it–we are all on CCTV many times a day, and if it reduces theft in Woolies, that’s a good thing. If you are honest at the self-serve checkouts, you won’t have a problem. Also, my Woolies has a big notice at the entrance advising customers of the new technology, so if you don’t like the rules at self-serve checkouts, use the other checkouts,’ Member @rathompson pointed out.
Member @Simplelife shared their frustration: ‘Yet another invasion of privacy in Australia. It’s a sad world where businesses treat all customers like possible criminals. It's so weird that you can’t take a photo of your child or grandchild at their swimming lesson due to the “privacy” of the other children who may get in the shot, but we can’t even go Grocery shopping without having our presence caught on camera and recorded for god knows who to see.’
Member @Ricci said: ‘What improvements could be made in regard to self-checkouts? Easy, take them out and put some actual humans in.’
You can watch Pnuk’s video here:
Members, although the AI cameras are intended to make the checkout process easier, it’s concerning to know your personal information and card details could be at risk. We hope that, if you’ve experienced any issues, you’ll be able to make your concerns or complaints heard.
Do you prefer the self-checkout counters at Woolies? What do you think of this story? Let us know in the comments below!
A shopper named Pnuks took to social media on Friday to share details of his experience at Woolworths, where he noticed something concerning about the cameras above the checkouts.
At each checkout, customers must enter their PIN code or tap their phone when using PayPass, but as Pnuks quickly realised, the camera is positioned directly above this personal information.
'Yes, they can see every content on your phone, that’s a big problem,' he said before showing an example of how much area the camera captures of the checkout.
Pnuks pointed out that the self-checkout cameras can see the contents of someone’s phone. Credit: @pnuks/TikTok
He believes it is enough to pick up someone’s card details.
The video garnered the interest of Woolies shoppers, with one person commenting: ‘I never thought of that. The thing saw me fumble in my bag for my phone and thought I was stealing.’
‘Same for putting in your card pin. Shouldn't be able to record that part,’ a second person said.
‘It’s an invasion of privacy; they’ve already got cameras all through the shops, and now they can see our pins,’ another shopper pointed out.
Unfortunately, this isn’t customers' only issue regarding the retailer using AI technology. Customers have complained that the cameras are being used in 'bad faith', while shoppers feel they are under constant surveillance.
The cameras were introduced to 250 stores last year to prevent shoppers from scanning the wrong or pricey items as cheaper products and to make shopping ‘more convenient and seamless’.
‘While most customers do the right thing at our self-serve check-outs, we’re all busy, and mistakes can easily happen,’ the Woolworths’s spokesperson said.
Woolworths has promised that any faces and pin pads have been blurred out and that the footage is used for training purposes.
On top of that, customers became frustrated when they learnt the trolleys had to be emptied entirely for payment to be processed.
If the trolley hadn’t been emptied fully before checking out, the screen would flash the message: 'Have you left any items in your trolley or basket? Please wait for assistance.'
We shared an article about this rollout at Woolies early this year, and our members have different opinions about these cameras.
Member @jkara5 wrote: ‘I don’t have a problem with it. If it stops people stealing and, hence, pushing prices up, it’s a good thing. Usually, you don’t have to wait more than 30 seconds for help, or you the other checkouts that are manned.’
‘I don’t have a problem with it–we are all on CCTV many times a day, and if it reduces theft in Woolies, that’s a good thing. If you are honest at the self-serve checkouts, you won’t have a problem. Also, my Woolies has a big notice at the entrance advising customers of the new technology, so if you don’t like the rules at self-serve checkouts, use the other checkouts,’ Member @rathompson pointed out.
Member @Simplelife shared their frustration: ‘Yet another invasion of privacy in Australia. It’s a sad world where businesses treat all customers like possible criminals. It's so weird that you can’t take a photo of your child or grandchild at their swimming lesson due to the “privacy” of the other children who may get in the shot, but we can’t even go Grocery shopping without having our presence caught on camera and recorded for god knows who to see.’
Member @Ricci said: ‘What improvements could be made in regard to self-checkouts? Easy, take them out and put some actual humans in.’
You can watch Pnuk’s video here:
Members, although the AI cameras are intended to make the checkout process easier, it’s concerning to know your personal information and card details could be at risk. We hope that, if you’ve experienced any issues, you’ll be able to make your concerns or complaints heard.
Do you prefer the self-checkout counters at Woolies? What do you think of this story? Let us know in the comments below!
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