The system works by connecting intelligent cameras to image processing software
Several supermarkets in France are testing new video surveillance systems at self-checkout stations, aiming to improve anti-theft measures but raising questions about privacy. At an Intermarché supermarket in Var, a trial system combines payment processing with video surveillance, according to *Le Parisien*.
The self-checkout machines use cameras to monitor customers’ hand movements as they scan and bag items. The system is designed to detect “suspicious gestures,” such as when customers accidentally or deliberately fail to scan certain products.
Laurent Hugou, the manager of the Intermarché store, volunteered to test the system. “People have developed habits with self-service checkouts. Sometimes the customer forgets an item at the bottom of the basket; sometimes the barcode is illegible,” Hugou explained.
The system works by connecting intelligent cameras to image processing software. If the cameras detect suspicious behavior or missed items, a message appears on the screen asking, “Vous êtes sûrs de n’avoir rien oublié ?” (Are you sure you haven’t forgotten anything?). If the customer does not respond, the checkout is blocked, requiring a staff member to assist. The system can also replay video to help staff verify the situation.
Hugou described the trial as successful, noting that errors have decreased by 50% and that there have been no significant issues among the 300-400 daily users of the self-checkout lanes.
However, the initiative has sparked concerns from France’s data protection authority, La Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL), which questioned the system’s compliance with data protection regulations. The software is developed by the EU start-up Veesion, but CNIL has expressed doubts about whether the technology adequately protects customers’ personal data.
Martin Drago from the French digital rights group La Quadrature du Net suggested that the surveillance system could potentially be deemed illegal. Despite these concerns, Diebold Nixdorf, the manufacturer of the machines, has defended its technology, stating that the cameras blur out all personal and confidential data, and that the video is not stored for long-term use.
As the trial continues, the debate over balancing effective anti-theft measures with protecting personal privacy is likely to intensify, especially as technology increasingly intersects with everyday shopping experiences.