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NEW YORK — Walmart has begun equipping store-level employees with body cameras as part of a pilot program at selected U.S. locations, CNBC has reported. Though the retailer has not disclosed the exact number of stores involved, shoppers have spotted signs at entry points warning of “body-worn cameras in use.”
In Denton, Texas, about 40 miles north of Dallas, a shopper noticed a Walmart associate wearing a yellow-and-black body camera while checking receipts. Photos shared with CNBC confirm the device's presence.
“While we don’t talk about the specifics of our security measures, we are always looking at new and innovative technology used across the retail industry,” a Walmart spokesperson told CNBC. “This is a pilot we are testing in one market, and we will evaluate the results before making any longer-term decisions.”
Balancing safety and surveillance
According to a source familiar with the initiative, it aims to improve worker safety rather than focus on theft prevention. Employees are instructed to record escalating customer interactions but must refrain from using cameras in private areas like break rooms and restrooms.
“There’s too much harassment that goes on throughout the year, but especially during the holiday season ... it’s even worse,” said Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. However, he expressed concerns about the program’s true purpose: “The body camera doesn’t intervene. We need safe staffing and panic buttons.”
Bianca Agustin, co-executive director of United for Respect, echoed similar concerns. “There’s a claim that the body cams are going to promote de-escalation just organically. We don’t think that’s true,” she said. “There’s already cameras in stores.”
David Johnston, vice president of asset protection for the National Retail Federation, offered a different perspective. “Many of these body-worn cameras have reverse-view monitors ... you actually see yourself on camera. That in itself can be a very big deterrent,” he explained.
Retail analyst Mark Cohen noted that Walmart’s motivation could extend beyond safety. “Walmart’s probably got a salesforce that feels like the store is not doing enough to protect them,” he said. “This is a test to see whether it has any beneficial effects.”
Mixed reactions from retail workers
Some retail veterans remain skeptical. A former Hot Topic employee who faced frequent customer hostility doubted that cameras prevented aggressive behavior. “With these people ... they’re not thinking rationally,” they shared. “Even with a camera facing them, I don’t think they would care.”
Other retailers have already adopted similar measures. TJX Cos., owner of TJ Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods, reported success using body cameras on loss prevention staff. “It’s almost like a de-escalation where people are less likely to do something when they’re being videotaped,” chief financial officer John Klinger said.
