Nacera Bekhat, CNIL: “Walking through a store aisle does not mean I have consented to data processing”

Several vendors, like Veesion, provide smart camera technologies aimed at capturing customer data throughout the store to prevent theft. How do these systems fit with GDPR?

Some systems capture and analyse in real time people’s behaviour across all or almost all of the store to detect theft, and if needed, dispatch staff to handle the situation. The CNIL has considered that these systems cannot be deployed as they currently stand and require legal authorisation and legislative oversight. To authorise this type of in-store system, a law is needed with strong safeguards and allowing the exclusion of the objection right of customers (the associated bill is promoted by MP Paul Midy, former C.E.O. of Frichty and CMO of Jumia Group, Editor’s note). Indeed, we clearly see that these systems cannot work with an effective objection right given the pursued purpose (theft prevention).…