Privacy

Wegmans Uses Facial Recognition in Some 'High-Risk' Stores

Is facial recognition protecting select stores from criminals, or is it invasive technology surveilling everyone and misidentifying shoppers?

Published JAN 15

Wegmans Uses Facial Recognition in Some 'High-Risk' Stores

Story

Above: People walk through the new Wegmans Astor Place grocery store in New York City on Oct. 28, 2023. Image credit: Gary Hershorn/Getty Images

The Facts

Wegmans Food Markets has acknowledged using facial recognition technology in a small fraction of its stores located in communities that exhibit "elevated risk." It's used to identify individuals previously flagged for misconduct and is deployed alongside other security measures.
New York Post
Biometric Update
Wegmans
Signs posted at New York City Wegmans stores notify customers that biometric information, including facial recognition, eye scans and voiceprints, may be collected and stored. The signage is required under a 2021 city law mandating such disclosure.
CNN
New York Post
Gothamist
Wegmans collects various customer data, including contact information, transaction history, video recordings of shoppers and license plates, and location data from mobile devices. It shares de-identified purchase and profile data with third parties.
Forbes
Investigative Post
The Federal Trade Commission in 2023 banned Rite Aid from using facial recognition technology for five years after finding it falsely identified customers as shoplifters, disproportionately affecting people of color and women.
CNN
Biometric Update
Connecticut lawmakers announced plans to prohibit retailers from using facial recognition on customers, while Erie County, NY, Executive Mark Poloncarz said he found Wegmans' use of the technology troubling and directed local officials to draft laws prohibiting the collection of biometric data.
Biometric Update
Investigative Post
Wegmans stated it does not collect retinal scans or voiceprints and retains images only as long as necessary for security purposes before disposal. The company said facial recognition data is not shared with third parties and serves as one investigative lead rather than a sole basis for decisions.
WFSB Channel 3
WHEC.com
Wegmans

Sources Split

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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.

Security Industry Association

Wegmans

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.

Biometric Update

Investigative Post