Shopper calls out ‘big problem’ with Woolworths checkout camera

Woolworths has been called out over one ‘big problem’ with the cameras above its self service check-outs.

Customers have raised concerns about surveillance cameras above the self-service check-outs at Woolworths which have been labelled a “big problem”.

Social media creator Pnuks told TikTok viewers on Friday he had an issue with how the cameras were positioned above where shoppers personal information was on display.

“A lot of you will be like, ‘Pnuks it’s just there to stop crime, it’s there to stop people from miss-scanning’,” he said, before explaining why he wasn’t a fan of them.

“So now if you live in today’s century to pay for these [groceries], you use paypass,” he said.

“You’re most likely at the checkout to put in the [phone] code, you tap and you pay. Yeah, that’s a big problem when you got a big camera above you.”

He showed an example of how much area the camera captured of the checkout, which he speculated meant it would be able to pick up card details.

“Yes they can see every content on your phone, that’s a big problem,” he said.

It’s not the first time shoppers have taken issue with AI technology being used by the supermarket giant.

Pnuks said he had an issue with how the cameras were positioned. Picture: TikTok/pnuks

Earlier this year customers complained the AI cameras were being used in “bad faith”, while others said they felt they were under constant surveillance.

The retailer has insisted the overhead AI cameras were introduced to prevent people from scanning the wrong things and helping to avoid shoppers scanning pricey items as cheaper products.

The overhead AI cameras were introduced to 250 stores along the country’s east coast following a successful trial last year, but it has been met with considerable pushback.

The retailer promised faces and pin pads were blurred out, it has confirmed footage captured from these cameras were stored and used for training purposes.

A Woolworths spokesperson said the overhead cameras helped “reduce misscans” and is one of a number of initiatives it’s rolled out across check-outs “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 spokesperson said.

“We’d like to thank our customers for their support while we’ve implemented this initiative.

@pnuks#stitch with @Sari @Woolworths_au could sell ur data to anyone. fix thus rn!! #security#racism#smartphone#pnuk♬ original sound - pnuks

A wave of backlash came in the wake of news the self-service check-outs required shoppers to completely empty their trolley before attempting to pay.

That meant for shoppers sharing a trolley with someone at a neighbouring checkout, neither would be able to complete their payment until the other had retrieved all their items.

If the trolley hadn’t been emptied fully prior to checking out, the screen would flash the message: “Have you left any items in your trolley or basket? Please wait for assistance”.

Once an employee scanned their card, the screen defaulted to a live display of the trolley and items still inside, with the message: “Please confirm all items in the trolley or basket have been scanned”.