New York state lawmakers are advancing proposals to restrict the use of biometric surveillance technology in public spaces amid growing concern over the supermarket chain Wegmans’ collection of customers’ facial and other biometric data.
The recent push comes after Wegmans posted notices at some New York City supermarket locations saying the chain “collects, retains, converts, stores or shares customers’ biometric identifier information,” a broad description that can include facial recognition, eye scans and voice data. The company has said the technology is intended to enhance safety by identifying individuals previously flagged for misconduct, but it has declined to fully detail how the data is stored or whether it is used beyond security purposes.
Privacy advocates and some elected officials say the lack of transparency raises civil liberties and privacy concerns. In New York City, a local law requires businesses to disclose biometric data use, but critics say the disclosures are often too vague to give customers meaningful notice.
State Sen. Rachel May, a Democrat from Syracuse, is among the lawmakers calling for stronger limits on biometric tracking in public accommodations such as grocery stores. May sponsored legislation last year that would prohibit the use of biometric surveillance systems, including facial recognition, in places of public accommodation.
May told the Central Current that biometric systems can exacerbate discrimination because they are “much more accurate with certain demographics than others,” particularly raising concerns about false identifications in communities of color.
Other New York leaders have signaled interest in regulating corporate biometric practices. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz wrote on social media that he found the use of biometric collection by retailers “very troubling” and has directed staff to begin drafting a county law that could restrict such practices.
Wegmans, which operates more than 100 stores nationwide and was founded in Rochester, said its biometric technology deployments are limited and focused on safety. The company has maintained the data is retained only as long as necessary for security purposes and not shared with third parties, but has not specified retention timelines or broader use policies.
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