Shoppers spotted warning signs about facial recognition at Wegmans stores, and the notices quickly raised privacy concerns, according to RochesterFirst.com. New York City law requires retailers to disclose when they collect biometric data, including facial scans.
Wegmans confirmed it uses facial recognition in a small number of higher-risk stores to flag people previously linked to misconduct. The company says it uses the system only for security, limits data retention, and doesn’t share biometric information with third parties.
A cybersecurity expert at Rochester Institute of Technology says the technology isn’t new, but public concern has grown as data breaches increase. Unlike passwords, stolen biometric data can’t be changed.
Ultimately, experts say customers must decide whether they feel comfortable shopping there.
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