Big Brother Watch campaigners says the 'Orwellian' cameras at Southern Co-op shops breach people's rights.
The Southern Co-Op chain is facing a legal challenge to its use of facial recognition technology to cut crime.
But Southern says it is only using the Facewatch system in shops with a history of crime, to protect its staff. This is then compared with a database of people the co-operative says have stolen from its shops, or been violent. The complaint to the ICO claims the system breaches data protection laws because the information is processed in ways which are not proportionate to the need to prevent crime.
The data produced from the facial recognition cameras is deleted after being compared with the watch-list, but the original picture is kept for 72 hours in case an individual subsequently breaks the law or is violent.Southern Co-Op said it would welcome any "constructive feedback" from the Information Commissioner.
"Signage is on display in the relevant stores. As long as it continues to prevent violent attacks, then we believe its use is justified."The cameras are in use at Southern Co-Op shops in towns and cities including Portsmouth, Southampton, Bristol, Bournemouth, Hove, Croydon and Chichester.
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