Technology built into mannequins helping stores track customers

Facebook and Google aren?t the only companies with the ability to spy on you. Brick-and-mortar stores can too ? thanks to some creepy technology.

It?s no secret some companies track your online browsing activities to figure out what you're interested in so they can serve you targeted ads that you're more likely to notice. Now some stores are employing a new breed of mannequins equipped with facial recognition technology, reports The Washington Post .

The Italian company Almax SpA sells a mannequin called the EyeSee that has a camera built into one of its eyes that ports data into facial recognition software that can tell the age, gender and race of people walking by.

With such data, retailers can pivot store layouts, displays and promotions to better market to whatever demographic is checking out a certain area. Fashion retailer Benetton is reportedly investing in the EyeSee, which costs more than $5,000.

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