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Wegmans claimed the system is only used to identify individuals “previously flagged for misconduct.” But the company refused to disclose how many of its 114 stores across nine states and Washington, D.C. are currently running the technology.
That lack of transparency only intensified concerns.
The door sign explicitly warned that biometric identifiers could include facial images, eye scans, and voiceprints. Yet Wegmans later insisted it does not collect “other biometric data such as retinal scans or voice prints.”
Shoppers and privacy advocates immediately pointed out the contradiction.
Wegmans also acknowledged it stores customer images and video footage “as long as necessary for security purposes.” When asked to clarify how long that is, the company declined.
“For security reasons, we do not disclose the exact retention period, but it aligns with industry standards,” Wegmans said.
Under federal guidelines, that can mean biometric data is stored for up to 15 years.
New York lawmaker demands accountability
The controversy drew the attention of Monroe County Legislator Rachel Barnhart, who sent a letter directly to Wegmans CEO Colleen Wegman demanding clarity.
“Reporting on Wegmans’ NYC locations has made clear that biometric surveillance — including facial recognition — is operating in grocery stores where customers have no practical opportunity to provide informed consent or meaningfully opt out,” Barnhart wrote.
She also warned the technology could eventually be used for purposes far beyond security, such as targeted advertising or dynamic pricing.
“Without explicit, binding limits, assurances that biometric data is used ‘only for security’ are insufficient,” she added.
Civil liberties groups warn of dangerous precedent
Privacy advocates were quick to sound the alarm.
Daniel Schwarz of the New York Civil Liberties Union warned that facial recognition technology is deeply flawed and prone to errors.
“This technology lets Wegmans watch, track, and collect highly personal information about your every move in their store,” Schwarz said.
The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project raised even more serious concerns, warning that biometric data could end up in the hands of hackers, rogue government agencies, or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
ICE already uses facial recognition tools in public spaces and stores that data for years, regardless of citizenship status.
Crime surge pushes retailers toward surveillance
Wegmans is hardly alone. Retailers across the country are scrambling to respond to a surge in theft.
According to the National Retail Federation, shoplifting incidents jumped 93% from 2019 to 2023, followed by another 18% increase from 2023 to 2024. Violence tied to retail theft also surged.
In Democrat-run cities like New York, critics argue lax prosecution policies and cashless bail laws have emboldened criminals. As a result, retailers are investing billions in AI-driven security systems.
More than 90% of retailers plan to increase loss prevention spending in 2025.
But critics say everyday shoppers are paying the price.
From security to blacklisting
Facial recognition has already been abused elsewhere. James Dolan, CEO of Madison Square Garden, famously used the technology to identify and ban attorneys whose firms were suing his company.
Privacy advocates fear grocery stores could easily do the same.
New York City passed a 2021 law requiring businesses to post notices about biometric data collection. But efforts to ban facial recognition in retail spaces have stalled in the City Council since 2023.
Critics argue Democrats have failed to protect both public safety and personal privacy.
Shoppers divided, surveillance marches on
Reactions from Wegmans customers have been mixed.
“I don’t want no one to think I’m stealing anything or doing anything illegal,” said 59-year-old Johnny Jerido, who told Gothamist he plans to shop elsewhere.
Others were more indifferent.
“It could be like a little nuisance, but at the end of the day I don’t think it’ll ever stop me from coming here,” said 29-year-old Victor Cash.
That resignation, critics say, is exactly how surveillance quietly becomes permanent.
Your face is now a data point. A tracking tool. A barcode.
And once it’s stored, you may never get it back.
