Foodstuffs trialled facial recognition in select North Island supermarkets, scanning shoppers’ faces against a watchlist of known offenders. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has backed the move, saying he wants to be “as enabling as he can” in tackling retail crime — even as the Privacy Commissioner’s review is still underway. Consumer NZ’s Jon Duffy says the use of biometric surveillance is deeply invasive, raising concerns about racial bias, false matches, data misuse, and lack of transparency. Critics warn it risks normalising high-surveillance shopping before clear rules or public consent are in place.