If you spotted headlines about facial recognition at Wegmansand felt a little uneasy, you’re not alone.
A sign posted at one of the grocery chain’s New York City locations sparked a wave of questions after shoppers noticed language about collecting biometric data, including facial recognition. That sign quickly caught attention online and raised concerns about how much data is being gathered and why.
Why Facial Recognition Signs Caught Attention
According to RochesterFirst, Wegmans moved quickly to clarify what’s actually happening behind the scenes. The company says facial recognition technology is used strictly for security purposes and only in a very small number of stores considered higher risk. This isn’t something being rolled out chain-wide, and it’s not meant to track everyday shoppers.
How Wegmans Uses Facial Recognition Technology
Wegmans explained that the system is designed to identify individuals who have already been flagged for past misconduct, such as repeated theft or safety incidents. Despite the wording on the sign, the company says it does not collect other biometric data like retinal scans or voiceprints. Facial recognition is the only tool involved, and even then, it’s used as just one part of a broader investigation, not as a final decision-maker.
The company also stressed that any images or video collected are stored only as long as necessary for security reasons and are then disposed of in line with industry standards. For obvious security reasons, Wegmans hasn’t shared exact retention timelines, but it emphasized that the data is never sold or shared with third parties. Decisions about identifying a “person of interest” are handled by the asset protection team on a case-by-case basis and, in some instances, with input from law enforcement…