Wegmans Food Markets has quietly deployed invasive biometric surveillance technology in its New York City stores, collecting customers’ facial recognition data, eye scans, and voiceprints without meaningful consent while contradicting its own public statements about the scope of data collection.
Story Snapshot
- Wegmans admits to facial recognition in “elevated risk” stores but denies collecting eye scans and voiceprints despite posted signage claiming otherwise
- Privacy advocates warn the technology exposes personal data to hackers and potential government misuse, including ICE surveillance
- The grocery chain refuses to disclose which other locations beyond NYC use the technology, raising transparency concerns
- Customer backlash grows as shoppers discover they’re being surveilled during routine grocery shopping without meaningful notice
Corporate Surveillance Creeps Into Everyday Shopping
Wegmans Food Markets has confirmed deployment of facial recognition technology in what it calls “elevated risk” stores, including two Manhattan and Brooklyn locations. The Rochester-based grocery chain posted signage at NYC stores notifying customers about biometric data collection, including facial recognition, eye scans, and voiceprints. However, company statements contradict these signs, with Wegmans claiming it only collects facial recognition data while denying the collection of retinal scans or voiceprints despite what their own posted warnings indicate.
The technology deployment represents a significant escalation in retail surveillance, moving beyond traditional security cameras to invasive biometric identification systems. Wegmans operates 114 stores across nine states and Washington D.C., but refuses to disclose which additional locations employ this surveillance technology. This lack of transparency prevents customers from making informed decisions about where to shop and whether they consent to having their biometric data collected and stored.
Privacy Rights Under Attack
Civil liberties organizations have raised serious concerns about the constitutional implications of this surveillance program. Daniel Schwarz from the New York Civil Liberties Union warns that facial recognition technology is “highly erroneous” and “tracks every move,” potentially violating constitutional protections against unreasonable searches. The technology creates particular risks for marginalized communities who face higher rates of misidentification and could be wrongfully banned from stores based on algorithmic errors.
Will Owen from Surveillance Technology Oversight Project emphasizes that customers shouldn’t have to “hand over your face” just to buy groceries. The biometric data collected creates permanent digital profiles that could be exposed to hackers or accessed by government agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Unlike passwords or credit cards, biometric identifiers cannot be changed if compromised, making data breaches particularly devastating for affected individuals.
Government Overreach Concerns Mount
The surveillance program has drawn criticism from elected officials who view it as an example of corporate overreach enabled by weak privacy protections. Monroe County Legislator Rachel Barnhart has demanded “meaningful disclosure” from Wegmans about the scope of its surveillance operations. State Senator Rachel May has sponsored legislation to ban biometric collection in retail stores, recognizing the chilling effect such surveillance has on free association and movement.
The timing of this deployment is particularly concerning given the incoming Trump administration’s focus on immigration enforcement. Privacy advocates worry that biometric databases collected by private companies could be accessed by federal agencies for immigration sweeps or other law enforcement activities. This creates a surveillance infrastructure that fundamentally alters the relationship between citizens and their government, transforming routine commercial activities into opportunities for tracking and monitoring.
Wegmans claims the technology assists with identifying individuals flagged for previous misconduct and helps law enforcement with missing persons cases. However, the company admits decisions are never based solely on the technology, raising questions about why such invasive surveillance is necessary if human judgment ultimately prevails. The contradiction between posted signage and company statements suggests either deceptive practices or inadequate internal coordination about the extent of data collection activities.
Sources:
Wegmans using facial recognition technology in a small fraction of stores across multiple states
Wegmans deploys biometric surveillance at NYC stores
Wegmans facial recognition biometrics grocery New York City
