Wegmans collecting biometric data at some stores for security purposes

The signs warn shoppers that Wegmans “collects, retains, converts stores or shares customers’ biometric identifier information which may include: facial recognition, eye scans or voice prints.”

Asked by syracuse.com | The Post-Standard if it is using the technology at Central New York stores, Wegmans did not directly answer the question.

Tracy Van Auker, a Wegmans spokesperson, said in a statement on Monday the grocery store chain is using cameras equipped with facial recognition in a “small fraction of stores that exhibit an elevated risk.”

News about Wegmans using the technology in New York City stores broke in the last two days in metro area media.

Shoppers told a New York City media outlet they would consider shopping elsewhere. Others told the outlet they were concerned the data could potentially be shared with ICE.

Auker said the technology is used solely to keep stores “secure and safe.”

“The system collects facial recognition data and only uses it to identify individuals who have been previously flagged for misconduct,” she said.

These “persons of interest” are determined by security staff and by law enforcement on a case-by-case basis for criminal or missing persons cases, Auker said.

The data is stored for “as long as necessary for security reasons” before it is disposed of, Auker said. She did not disclose how long the data is stored.

The data is not shared with any third party, she said.

Wegmans’ privacy policy states biometric data is available to a “limited number of Wegmans employees, third-party service providers and/or law enforcement, all of whom may be engaged to assist with security-related tasks when they arise.”

The policy specifies third-party providers only have access to the security data when it is “strictly required to perform their job.”

The data is not shared, leased or exchanged for profit, according to the policy.

Auker said stores are not collecting other biometric data, such as retinal scans or voice prints, as the New York City signs imply.

A New York City law, which went into effect in 2021, requires businesses to disclose if they are collecting this data. It also makes it illegal for those businesses to sell, lease, trade or profit from the exchange of that data to a third party.

Auker said that the company does not disclose specific security measures used at each story for safety purposes.