Privacy Commissioner utterly wrong in allowing Supermarkets mass surveillance
Privacy commissioner inquiry finds supermarket facial recognition tech’s use is justified
The Privacy Commissioner says facial recognition technology in supermarkets has potential safety benefits, despite raising significant privacy concerns.
No!
No!
No!
The Privacy Commissioner has this utterly wrong!
The power of the duopoly to impose facial recognition mass surveillance into Supermarkets its an outrageous abuse of power.
Supermarkets are a necessity, allowing them to import mass surveillance powers is an abuse of that necessity.
The Privacy Commissioner has utterly failed to protect our privacy and we can see where Peter Thiel is taking that privacy…
President Trump, Palantir’s possible partnership: What to know
President Trump and Palantir reportedly partnering for a centralized database
Palantir has four major projects where its software is used
The database could lead to fewer wasted tax dollars, faster services, and smarter law enforcement
…it is short sighted of the Privacy Commissioner in the extreme to think this real time face recognition won’t be expanded and used in real time by the authorities, something that is even freaking MAGA out…
Far right flips out over reported Palantir plan
Even far-right influencers are creeped out by President Donald Trump’s reported plan to work with MAGA-friendly tech company Palantir on merging data on Americans from different agencies into a single location — a development that could lead to the federal government having unprecedented power to spy on, and harass, Americans. Newsweek highlighted worried responses from Nick Fuentes, the Hodgetwins and other influencers who are sounding the alarm.
…we can not trust Supermarkets who already price gouge us with something as Orwellian as face recognition surveillance.
The Privacy Commissioner has failed us and must be removed the moment there is a change in Government.
Increasingly having independent opinion in a mainstream media environment which mostly echo one another has become more important than ever, so if you value having an independent voice – please donate here.
Be surveiled or be trespassed from your local supermarket by the state forces under threat of arrest.
During the height of the pandemic during the lockdown, I put on my mask to do our weakly grocery shopping a thet Papakura New World supermarket. People were lined up by New World masked Security guards ordering people to remove their masks so that the security canperas could see their faces before being allowed entry. When I got to the front of the line I refused to remove my mask, I aksed the security guard to remove his mask, he refused. The security guards then called the police, The Papakura police arrieved and ordered me to remove my mask so that the New World cameras could recognise me. I refused the police order to remove my mask. I asked them if they would remove their masks, they refused, The Papakura police then issued me with a trespass notice banning me from shopping at Papakura New World for 3 years or be arrested..
Privacy Commissioner utterly wrong in allowing Supermarkets mass surveillance
Privacy Intrusioner utterly wrong in allowing Supermarkets mass surveillance
There you go Marty, fixed-it-for-ya..
You have given us clear reasons Pat for the outcomes in place, from those affected, of this approach and law. Meanwhile the enthusiasm of old protesters I have met, is still for anti-fluoride or whatever, despite all the stuff already in our water and land. People are so busy on trying to prove King Canute (Cnut)* wrong; he showed his advisors that he couldn’t stop the tide, and they must attend to other concerns. We have creeping danger, like an incoming tide, of surveillance to try and manage because of indefensible system changes from advisors and politicians.
There is state surveillance, there is business surveillance, but also neighbours can set up security cameras that overlook one’s own living space outside deck, terrace, lawn, garden and even show into the house through windows. So much for respect for individuality. Trump, Luxon can be individual, the rest of us are a herd, we may keep ‘lowing’ but it’s too low to be heard. Hah!
*The BBC discusses King Canute and brings up the various ways that people embroider or twist history, recent or distant to suit their ends. One reference to Canute ans his reign sounds good for us. We would wish this for us if we were to be overcome by some other country’s power, but I can’t think it being from the western side.
“He was a firm ruler, renowned not only for actions calculated to win the support and affection of his English subjects, but also for his attempts at reconciling the English and the Danes.
“Although he had come to rule over the English by force of arms, he dealt intelligently with the situation and always acted with acute political sense.”
https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-13524677 Is King Canute misunderstood? 26 May 2011
Give the control freaks any sort of power and they completely fail to understand the difference between a perceived risk and a real risk and insist on total obedience to their over the top rules. I guess that they also think that everyone else is as stupid as they are and are not able to make an informed decision based on the actual situation.
Well explained – so right Bonnie.
If you don’t steal from Foodstuffs, then you should take full advantage of your rights under the Privacy Act to request that they search their surveillance footage/facial recognition data at every single one of their stores for any private data (like your face) that they hold.
I suspect everyone who does this costs them hours of time. Make sure you refuse to narrow down the search. Make them pay for spying on the people of this country. You can send requests to Privacy@foodstuffs.co.nz
Nemo, thanks for reminding me that anyone can make a privacy act request to see what these agencies have on me. If we all made lawful requests every time we went in the shop, we would be quite within our rights.
This is an incredible story Pat. Your human rights were violated by a supermarket. And endorsed by the police. Insane. And during the pandemic. Shocking and it should have been reported by the media at the time.
What is wrong with the Privacy Commission to allow supermarkets and the people who work there to have this power? It has already been abused by a security guard in the Golriz case and a number of other people have been wrongly trespassed notably a Māori woman in front of her children.
Pak n Spy.
What do our politicians and advisors know? What should they have cognisance of? Where do they pick up their ideas, get training and skills and knowledge from? (eg David Seymour went somewhere in Canada I think.)
So Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster?
https://iapp.org/news/b/new-zealand-appoints-new-privacy-commissioner
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of New Zealand announced Michael Webster was appointed privacy commissioner. Webster has been a public servant since 1999, most recently working as secretary of the Cabinet of New Zealand and clerk of the Executive Council of New Zealand. Justice Minister Kris Faafoi said Webster will “provide the leadership required to ensure the public can be confident that their privacy rights are being protected.” Webster is replacing John Edwards, who left to become the U.K. Information Commissioner.
Note: I had to search for the full name for IAPP which remained unexplained from me on the first site.till I did a search. – The International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2000 that focuses on advancing the profession of privacy and data protection. It provides resources, education, and certification programs for privacy professionals worldwide.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Association_of_Privacy_Professionals
and on another site –
The IAPP is a policy neutral, not-for-profit association founded in 2000 with a mission to define, promote and improve the professions of privacy, AI governance and digital responsibility globally.
Pease International Tradeport, 75 Rochester Ave., Portsmouth, NH 03801 USA • +1 603.427.9200
https://iapp.org/news/b/new-zealand-appoints-new-privacy-commissioner
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My privacy is being protected so that I cannot open to this link perhaps because its particular net controls have not been updated or protected. Interesting.
Michael Webster – 33rd Annual NZSTA Conference
Te Whakarōputanga Conference 2024
https://www.nzstaconference.co.nz › michael-webster
He has a long history of public service, with expertise in policy development, corporate strategy and planning and risk management. His career has to date …
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From Google Scholar where one’s work and publications are listed and the number of citations from other scholars.
https://scholar.google.co.nz/citations?user=IKVvv4EAAAAJ&hl=en
Is this al the same M.Webster on Google Scholar:?This might be the man.
[PDF] from victoria.ac.nz
Government decision making during a crisis: The New Zealand experience during the Covid-19 pandemic
Authors Michael Webster Publication date 2021/2/1
Journal
Policy Quarterly
Volume 17 Issue 1
Description
A key component of New Zealand’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic was how the government was organised and supported to make decisions in relation to the health, economic, social, foreign policy, legal and other policy issues it faced. The New Zealand system of central government decision making, as set out in the Cabinet Manual and operated by the Cabinet Office, was continually adapted to ensure that the Prime Minister and Ministers, and the officials working to them, were provided with a system that facilitated both rapid and considered decision making and promulgation of those decisions.
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https://businessdesk.co.nz/people/michael-webster
(A human resources exclusive employment agency For the beltway?)
Earlier years – path to follow for the rising hopeful?
He holds a Master of Public Management and BA (Hons) from Victoria University of Wellington. Michael is a graduate of the EY/Darden School of Business Programme, and the Executive Fellows Programme of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government.
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-privacy-commissioner-appointed-1
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Interesting links with background to where our lilies of the field are cultivated:
https://news.cri.cn/2025-05-16/cdd6ba3a-cade-b23e-8fc1-13d9a02f9b3f.html
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https://profiles.auckland.ac.nz/m-webster
DEGREES
Master of Business Studies, Management
Massey University, New Zealand1 Mar 1993 – 1 May 2001
Diploma of Social Work
Auckland College of Education, New Zealand
Graduate Certificate in Professional Supervision
University of Auckland, New Zealand
PhD, Social Work
The University of Auckland, New Zealand1 Jan 2011 – 26 Sep 2017
CERTIFICATIONS
Registered Social Worker
Social Workers Registration Board, Aotearoa New Zealand 25 Aug 2011 – 20 Mar 2018
https://profiles.auckland.ac.nz/m-webster
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PACE is a term-acronym that we apparently are going to read more about.
One version :
https://pace.org.nz/events/pace-lunch-time-event-privacy-commissioner-michael-webster#https://pace.org.nz/events/pace-lunch-time-event-privacy-commissioner-michael-webster#
Further on PACE Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency
https://www.nzta.govt.nz › assets › resources › state-highway-professional-services-contract-proforma-manual › standards › docs › z11-performance-evaluation.pdf
Minimum Standard Z/11 – Performance Evaluation
suppliers using the PACE (Performance Assessment by Coordinated Evaluation) system.
Performance Evaluation is to be implemented on both Professional Services and Physical Works contracts relating to both capital…
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It’s possible that the Privacy Commissioner no longer believes there is Privacy because everyone is already surveilled almost everywhere.
Everything you do online is surveilled and tracked by advertisers.
All shops have surveillance cameras.
People have them in their homes and voluntarily share their data with cloud-based apps.
The petrol stations surveil every purchaser.
The NSA listens to the whole world’s phone calls.
Google sends its Maps cars everywhere, surveilling the roads and the people on them.
AT sends its parking enforcement cars all over Auckland, surveilling the roads and the people on them.
Satellite cameras can see a leaf and you, in your backyard.
Google and Microsoft surveil every word and number you write in the cloud.
And now the supermarkets are surveilling how you interact with product displays, heat mapping your path down the aisles, and photographing you to share with a software company, to share with the police, to share with an agency, to share with Big Brother and his Big Brother and Big Brothers Big Brother.
.