An Australian tribunal has overturned a 2024 privacy decision, ruling that Bunnings can use facial recognition technology to prevent theft and violence. Between 2019 and 2021, the hardware chain used the software in 62 stores to scan shoppers' faces and compare them against a database of banned individuals.

The tribunal decided that using the technology for safety did not outweigh the privacy rights of customers. However, the court did find that Bunnings failed to warn shoppers properly with clear signs. The managing director of Bunnings stated that the trial was meant to protect staff and customers from crime, adding that the company has accepted the feedback regarding better public notification.