Wegmans Supermarket Chain Joins Retail Facial Recognition Trend

Wegmans, a regional supermarket chain operating across the northeastern United States, has implemented a facial recognition pilot program at its Brooklyn Navy Yard location, amid growing scrutiny of biometric technology in retail settings.

The program currently focuses on collecting biometric data from consenting store employees, according to posted notices at the location. Wegmans has stated that any collected information from non-participating individuals will be deleted from the system. This implementation follows similar retail sector trials of facial recognition technology for security and operational purposes.

The deployment comes at a time of increased legislative attention to biometric privacy. In 2021, New York state legislators introduced the Biometric Privacy Act, which would regulate the collection and use of personal biometric data. While this legislation remains pending, New York City already requires businesses to post clear notices about biometric data collection and prohibits the sale of collected information.

Recent legal precedents have highlighted the complexity of biometric privacy regulations. A federal court in Texas recently dismissed a biometric privacy lawsuit against a major technology company, demonstrating the varying approaches to biometric data protection across different jurisdictions.

Local officials have expressed concerns about the technology’s implementation. Councilmember Shahana Hanif (D-Park Slope, Gowanus, Cobble Hill) has criticized the use of facial recognition systems, particularly highlighting potential impacts on minority and working-class communities. “We must speak up against these attacks on everyday people,” Hanif stated in a public comment.

Source: Brooklyn Daily Eagle

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November 5, 2024 – by Ali Nassar-Smith