- In 2012, Target operated a "couple of forensics labs" and at least 23 "investigations centers" for surveillance. OP's article kinda sugarcoats it. Since it's been verified Home Depot does checkout facial recognition and builds profiles, silly to think most any other major retailer wouldn't.
https://privacysos.org/blog/target-is-really-really-into-sur...
- I have a friend who works for Nordstorm doing this kind of work. She claimed the bigger problem financially is employees in retail, i.e. stealing clothes in large scale to be sold on eBay.
by kemiller2002
3 subcomments
- This shows where their priorities lie. This is also the same company that got hacked and lost credit card data of customers through their HVAC system. Bet nothing has really changed there as far as cyber security goes.
- TFA is a just a poor summary of an improperly cited 2009 forbes article. A somewhat recent article with additional information here https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-08-25/how-targe...
- How much forensic-grade surveillance profiling is an acceptable amount while I peruse deodorants and potato chips?
by OptionOfT
1 subcomments
- When I moved to the USA I always thought it was interesting in how many ways you can just walk out a store without paying.
I'm from Belgium, and at least where I grew up at, the stores are much more corralled. One way in, one way out.
But this forensics is also why I don't use self-checkout. Not that I steal stuff, but I don't want to end up in a situation where I forgot to scan something and get in trouble.
I've had it happen to me that something was missed at Costco, you just walk back and pay.
by alangibson
1 subcomments
- It's funny to see Reddit posts driving HN posts. There was a viral post about a rather video friendly lady getting politely arrested for shoplifting at Target going around today.
A surprising number of people commented about how Target had made sure they got long sentences by waiting and recording them until they would get serious charges.
by carverauto
0 subcomment
- so does walmart, have had one for a long time
- This is why Target self check out is the best. They have confidence in their theft deterrence so their machine has a lot of leeway and yells at me less for weight issues.
by hackable_sand
0 subcomment
- Friendly reminder that Target is still on the boycott list.
by doctorpangloss
1 subcomments
- people are reading this article misunderstanding that its purpose is to discourage theft by getting nerds to constantly talk about Target this, felony theft that, not by actually being effective at a technical level
by crises-luff-6b
0 subcomment
- [dead]
- "Huston"? This does not bode well for the writing/editing process at whatever site this is.
- looks like the lowly shoplifter is going to bring down capitalism.
All that theft! no more profits. fuck me.
All major businesses have insurance to cover all losses from internal and external theft. Those same lossses are tax right-offs. in other words, the amount of money lost to shoplifting is less money they pay in tax.
I wonder of all the cctv, facial recognition and monitoring costs work out more than the actual shoplifted losses.
there is more to meet the eye than a lowly shoplifter here.
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