New signage shows the grocery chain is collecting extensive biometric information from shoppers, expanding beyond a previously described limited pilot program.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Wegmans has expanded the scope of biometric surveillance inside its New York City grocery stores, now collecting facial, eye and voice data from customers entering its Manhattan and Brooklyn locations, according to newly posted notices inside the stores.
The signs inform shoppers that biometric identifiers are being collected upon entry and state that the purpose of the system is to “protect the safety and security of our patrons and employees.” The notices do not specify what technologies are used, how the data are stored, or how long the information is retained.
The expanded monitoring represents a significant shift from the company’s earlier description of the program. In 2024, Wegmans characterized its use of biometric technology as a small, temporary pilot, saying the scanning applied primarily to a limited number of employees and that any biometric data incidentally collected from customers would be deleted. The current notices contain no reference to deletion policies, data retention limits or restrictions on use.
Wegmans declined to answer questions about its biometric practices, including whether the information is shared with third parties or how long it is kept, according to reporting by Gothamist.
The development comes amid stalled efforts to regulate private-sector biometric surveillance in New York City. In 2023, members of the City Council proposed legislation that would have placed stricter limits on the use of facial recognition and similar technologies by businesses. The proposal followed revelations that Madison Square Garden had used facial recognition systems to identify and remove attorneys associated with litigation against the company. The bill did not advance, and Councilmember Shahana Hanif, who introduced the measure, declined to comment on Wegmans’ expanded biometric collection.
Current city rules, adopted in 2021, require only that businesses post clear signage when collecting biometric identifiers such as facial scans, fingerprints or voice data. The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection has acknowledged that it lacks enforcement authority under the rule and cannot penalize companies for noncompliance, leaving individuals to pursue legal action on their own.
With limited regulatory oversight and few disclosure requirements beyond signage, Wegmans’ expanded biometric surveillance highlights the growing role of advanced monitoring technologies in everyday retail settings and the unresolved policy questions surrounding their use.
Original article
Comments