Wegmans Uses Facial Recognition in Some 'High-Risk' Stores
The Spin
Techno-optimist narrative
Facial recognition technology keeps stores safe from violent criminals who have stolen over $112 billion from retailers and killed more than 1,100 people in retail settings since 2022. Wegmans deploys this proven security measure only in high-risk locations to identify previously flagged individuals, never basing decisions on technology alone and always maintaining human oversight. The public overwhelmingly supports this approach, with 68% recognizing facial recognition makes society safer.
Techno-skeptic narrative
Wegmans is conducting mass surveillance on shoppers from parking lot to checkout, tracking license plates, movements and purchases to sell customer data to advertisers and third parties. The company refuses to disclose how long it stores biometric data, who gets added to secret watchlists or whether facial recognition is even being used in Western New York stores. This invasive technology misidentifies women and people of color while creating private watchlists with zero accountability or transparency.