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Sign at the main entrance to a Wegmans grocery store in Manhattan. (Photo by Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Wegmans grocery stores in New York City are now collecting biometric data on anyone who enters their stores in Manhattan and Brooklyn, according to several media reports.
Big picture view:
Gothamist, a website that reports on New York City news, arts, events and food, reports the Rochester, New York based chain posted signs in the stores notifying customers that biometric data, including facial recognition, eye scans, and voiceprints, are being collected on everyone who enters the store.
Dig deeper:
The Wegmans Privacy Policy posted on the company’s website states the personal data they collect as part of their effort to provide a safe environment.
Some of our stores (including in exterior areas) utilize video surveillance and other monitoring tools (collectively, “Security Equipment”), which may capture license plate information and biometrics, such as facial recognition information, to create a safer environment for our staff and customers, and to deter, prevent, investigate, and/or prosecute any illegal activity that may occur on our premises. Our Security Equipment records digital images but does not record audio information (collectively, “Security Information”). Security Information is only accessible 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.
What we don’t know:
LiveNOW from FOX has reached out to Wegmans for further information and whether they plan to implement biometric data collection at other locations.
By the numbers:
Wegmans has 110 stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Delaware, and Washington, D.C. and employs more than 53,000 people.
The Source: Information in this article was sourced from Gothamist and the Wegmans website. This story was reported from Orlando.