NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
A viral post highlighting biometric surveillance at a Wegmans grocery store in New York City is sparking renewed privacy concerns.
“Biometric identifier information collected at this location,” a sign taped to the Wegmans door reads.
“Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. collects, stores, alters, stores or shares customer biometric identifier information, which may include” facial recognition, eye scans and voiceprints, the sign said.
MCDONALD’S DOORS ARE LOCKED TO KEEP OUT PEOPLE WHO ARE A ‘DANGER’ IN MINNEAPOLIS’ CRIME-RIDED AREA.
Wegmans confirmed it collects biometric readings, telling Fox News Digital in a statement that “the safety of our customers and employees is our top priority.”
The company continued, “Like many retailers, we use cameras to help identify people who pose a risk to our people, customers or operations. In a small portion of our high-risk stores, we have deployed cameras equipped with facial recognition technology.”
Wegmans confirmed to Fox News Digital that it collects customer biometric data in at least some of its stores. (Stock)
Wegmans said the technology in New York City matches local needs.
“This technology is used only to keep our stores secure and safe. This system collects facial recognition data and uses it to identify people who have been flagged for misconduct,” Wegmans said.
THE FOOD BILL WOULD PROHIBIT PLASTIC ITEMS AND CONDIMENT PACKAGING FROM EATERS IN MANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
The Rochester, New York-based grocer said it keeps customers’ photos and videos “as long as necessary for security purposes” before disposing of them.
“For safety reasons, we don’t disclose the exact storage time, but it’s in line with industry standards,” Wegmans said.
“We are not disclosing the exact closing time.”
“Persons of interest are determined by our asset protection team based on incidents that occur in our area and on a case-by-case basis, information from law enforcement on criminal cases or missing persons.”
Wegmans said it does not share biometric data with any third party.
It is unclear how many stores use facial recognition technology. (Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“Face recognition technology acts as a single investigator for us. We never base our decisions on just one lead,” the statement concluded. “Our goal is simple – to keep our stores safe and secure.”
It is unclear how many stores use facial recognition technology.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM
Wegmans has more than 100 stores in nine states — Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia — and Washington, DC, according to its website.
Wegmans has more than 100 locations in nine states and Washington, DC (John Senter/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Assemblywoman Rachel Barnhart of Monroe County, New York, wrote to Colleen Wegman, the grocer’s president and CEO, asking her to publicly state that biometric surveillance is being used at Wegmans stores outside of New York City.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
“Reporting on NYC Wegmans locations made it clear that biometric surveillance — including facial recognition — works in grocery stores where customers have no practical opportunity to provide informed consent or rationally check out,” Barnhart wrote, in part, in his January 4 letter.
“Without clear, binding restrictions, assurances that biometric data is used ‘for protection only’ are insufficient – especially given the growing enforcement and immigration reliance on third-party data sources,” he continued.
Barnhart questioned whether the technology would be used for variable pricing or targeted promotions.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE NEWS
A “substantive written response” is requested within 30 days.
Wegmans describes itself as a “family company based on values” on its website, noting that it was “founded by brothers Walter and John Wegman in Rochester, New York.”
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LIFE NEWSLETTER
The company’s story, it also says, “began in 1916, and we have been hitting milestones and gaining attention in the retail industry ever since.”
