A data strategist has described feeling like a 'criminal' after Sainsbury's staff mistakenly identified him as an offender using facial recognition software, leading to his removal from a store.
Warren Rajah, 42, from Elephant and Castle, south London, was shopping in his local branch on 27 January when he was approached by employees, asked to leave, and had his purchases confiscated. A 'distraught' Mr Rajah questioned the decision, with staff reportedly pointing to a sign indicating the store's use of facial recognition technology.
It later emerged that he had been confused with another individual, who was listed as an offender in the system and was also present in the store at the time. Sainsbury's has since apologised to Mr Rajah, stating there was no fault with the Facewatch technology, which is currently deployed in seven of its stores.
On being misidentified, Mr Rajah told the Press Association: 'You feel horrible, you feel like a criminal and you don't even understand why.' He added that after being removed from the store he contacted Facewatch, which told him he was not on its database after he sent a copy of his passport and a photo of himself.
Sainsbury's later apologised and offered him a £75 shopping voucher. A spokesperson for the firm said: 'We have been in contact with Mr Rajah to sincerely apologise for his experience in our Elephant and Castle store. This was not an issue with the facial recognition technology in use but a case of the wrong person being approached in store.'
Jasleen Chaggar of Big Brother Watch said: 'The idea that we are all just one facial recognition mistake away from being falsely accused of a crime or ejected from a store without any explanation is deeply chilling.'
