Overview
- Wegmans posted notices at Manhattan and Brooklyn stores stating biometric identifiers may be collected, though the company says it is not using retinal scans or voiceprints despite the signage language.
- The chain says facial recognition is deployed in a small fraction of locations it deems higher risk to identify people previously flagged for misconduct, with “persons of interest” set by its asset protection team and, case by case, via law enforcement information.
- Wegmans says images and video are kept only as long as needed for security but will not disclose the retention period, citing security reasons.
- The company asserts it does not share facial recognition scan data with third parties, while its privacy policy says security footage may be accessed by limited Wegmans staff, service providers, and/or law enforcement for security tasks.
- It remains unclear how many stores use the technology, as lawmakers and advocates press for transparency and stricter rules, citing risks of bias, misidentification, and the permanence of biometric data if breached.