Written questions

Supermarkets: Biometrics

Commons · Question 74516 · Tabled 2 Sep 2025 · Department for Science, Innovation and Technology · Official record

Answered 18 Sep 2025

Question

Asked by Andrew Snowden

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what safeguards are in place to ensure that facial recognition technology used in supermarkets does not contribute to discriminatory outcomes based on race, gender, age, or disability.

Answer

Answered by Ian Murray, 18 Sep 2025

FRT systems should not undermine people’s rights or discriminate unfairly. Under data protection law, organisations need to evaluate the risks to people and their rights deriving from the specific contexts. Supermarkets should be able to demonstrate that ...