Wegman uses biometric surveillance on shoppers, raising privacy concerns

A viral post highlighting biometric surveillance at a Wegmans grocery store in New York City is raising fresh concerns about privacy and consumer consent.

A sign posted at the store entrance warns customers that “biometric identifier information” is being collected at the location. According to the notice, Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. collects, retains, stores, or shares biometric data that may include facial recognition, eye scans, and voiceprints.

Wegmans confirmed to Fox News Digital that it is collecting biometric data at some of its locations, citing safety concerns.

“Like many retailers, we use cameras to help identify individuals who pose a risk to our people, customers or operations,” the company said in a statement. Wegmans added that facial recognition technology has been deployed at a “small fraction” of stores deemed to be at elevated risk.

The grocery chain said its use of facial recognition in New York City complies with local laws, insisting the technology is used solely for security purposes. According to Wegmans, facial data is only used to identify individuals who have previously been flagged for misconduct.

However, critics say shoppers have little practical ability to opt out.

Wegmans acknowledged that it retains images and video of customers for as long as it deems necessary for security reasons, though the company declined to disclose how long that data is stored.

“For security reasons, we do not disclose the exact retention period,” the company said, noting only that it aligns with industry standards.

The Rochester, New York–based chain said individuals of interest are identified by its asset protection team based on incidents occurring on store property or through information provided by law enforcement, including criminal investigations and missing-person cases. Wegmans claims it does not share biometric data with third parties and that facial recognition is used as just one investigative tool, not the sole basis for enforcement decisions.

Still, it remains unclear how many Wegmans stores nationwide are using the technology.