Enter at your own risk.\u00a0<\/p>\n
New signs unveiled at some Wegmans across the Big Apple are warning customers that personally-identifying biometric data, such as facial recognition scans, is being stored while they shop.<\/p>\n
The signs, posted this month in the grocery stores\u2019 Brooklyn and Manhattan locations and first reported by Gothamist<\/a>, will be used to \u201cprotect the safety and security of our patrons and employees.\u201d<\/p>\n New signs unveiled at Brooklyn and Manhattan Wegmans grocery store locations are warning customers that personally-identifying biometric data is being stored as they shop. WABC<\/p>\n \u201cWegmans \u2026 collects, retains, converts, stores or shares customers\u2019 biometric identifier information which may include facial recognition, eye scans, voiceprints,\u201d the notices read.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is information that can be used to help identify you.\u201d<\/p>\n The Rochester-based chain\u2019s data collection began during a 2024 pilot, which vowed that shoppers\u2019 data would not be saved.<\/p>\n The current signs posted across two locations around Gotham make no such promise, instead only committing to not \u201clease, trade or otherwise profit from the transfer of biometric identifier information.\u201d<\/p>\n A Wegmans rep told The Post that the tech is only being used in a \u201csmall fraction of our stores that exhibit an elevated risk.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAt Wegmans, the safety of our customers and employees is a top priority. Like many retailers, we use cameras to help identify individuals who pose a risk to our\u00a0people, customers, or operation,\u201d the rep said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe system collects facial recognition data and only uses it to identify individuals who have been previously flagged for misconduct.\u201d<\/p>\n The Rochester-based chain\u2019s data collection began during a 2024 pilot, which vowed that shoppers\u2019 data would not be saved. Erik Pendzich\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n Currently, the only biometric data stored at Wegmans is facial recognition scans.<\/p>\n The images and video are kept \u201cas long as necessary for security purposes\u201d and then deleted. The grocery chain would not disclose the \u201cexact retention period,\u201d claiming it was for security reasons.<\/p>\n Other grocery and retail locations in the five boroughs \u2013 like Fairway Market, Westside Market and Walgreen\u2019s \u2013 already implement biometric data collection in stores, according to Crain\u2019s.<\/a><\/p>\n In 2021, a New York City law went into effect mandating stores collecting biometric data post clear signs indicating such \u2013 but the enforcing agency has no enforcement power, Gothamist reported.<\/p>\n A City Council bill, introduced in 2023<\/a> by member Shahana Hanif, proposed banning the practice of biometric data collection altogether. But the bill failed to pass.<\/p>\n