Popular Supermarket Chain Will Store Biometric Data Of Shoppers’ Eyes, Voices And Faces

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This seems excessive and an invasion of one’s privacy.

Popular grocery store chain Wegmans has begun storing biometric data on all shoppers who enter its stores.

The biometric data will store shoppers’ faces, voices, and eyes as part of their safety protocols.

Gothamist broke the story and shared more on Wegman’s decision to launch the pilot program and what stores are impacted:

Wegmans in New York City has begun collecting biometric data from anyone who enters its supermarkets, according to new signage posted at the chain’s Manhattan and Brooklyn locations earlier this month.

Anyone entering the store could have data on their face, eyes and voices collected and stored by the Rochester-headquartered supermarket chain. The information is used to “protect the safety and security of our patrons and employees,” according to the signage. The new scanning policy is an expansion of a 2024 pilot.

The chain had initially said that the scanning system was only for a small group of employees and promised to delete any biometric data it collected from shoppers during the pilot rollout. The new notice makes no such assurances.

Wegmans representatives did not reply to questions about how the data would be stored, why it changed its policy or if it would share the data with law enforcement.

Shopper Johnny Jerido, 59, said he would shop elsewhere after learning about the biometric collection system.

“ I really don’t like it,” he said. “I don’t want no one to think I’m stealing anything or doing anything illegal.”

Legislation aiming to block businesses from using such systems was introduced in the City Council in 2023 after Madison Square Garden CEO James Dolan used it to identify and boot two attorneys who worked for law firms with active litigation against his company. But the bill has languished, and other supermarket chains like Fairway already use biometric collection systems.

Councilmember Shahana Hanif is the bill’s primary sponsor. She did not reply to a request for comment on Wegmans’ expanded collection program.

Wegmans and other businesses that collect biometric data are required to post signs announcing the practice because of a 2021 city law, but it’s unclear how many other companies may be using similar practices.

Take a look at the sign outside of Wegmans’ New York location:

A closer look:

The new move by the store has many users on social media concerned.

Take a look:

Is this one step closer to a corporate surveillance state?

Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!



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