Wegmans is responding to reports about the use of facial recognition cameras in some of its stores, saying it has been deployed across a handful of states to identify people “previously flagged for misconduct.”
Gothamist reported on the Rochester-based chain collecting and storing biometric data on shoppers’ faces, eyes and voices in New York City, where local law requires businesses to post that it is doing so.
That raised concern locally from Monroe County Legislator Rachel Barnhart, D-Rochester. In response to WXXI News, a Wegmans spokesperson confirmed Monday that the company has deployed cameras equipped with facial recognition technology “in a small fraction of our stories that exhibit elevated risk,” adding: “Currently those stores are in a handful of states.” The company declined to identify which stores are included…