Wegmans Backpedals on Facial Recognition Use Amid NYC Concerns
The grocery giant has defended its use of facial recognition technology at select stores, citing an "elevated risk" as the reason for deployment. Deana Percassi, a Wegmans spokesperson, stated that cameras with facial recognition capabilities are used to identify individuals who have been previously flagged for misconduct.
However, customers and local lawmakers are still uneasy about the practice, which has sparked concerns over data protection and transparency. The technology is allegedly employed in New York City locations, where signs at store entrances inform customers that biometric information may be collected, including facial recognition, eye scans, and voiceprints.
Percassi clarified that Wegmans does not collect retinal scans or voice prints and images are retained only for security purposes. Nevertheless, the company's approach has raised eyebrows among lawmakers, with Monroe County Legislator Rachel Barnhart expressing concerns over the potential misuse of biometric data.
Barnhart noted that "biometric data is uniquely sensitive" and emphasized the importance of transparency in corporate practices. While Wegmans is a beloved institution in the Rochester community, Barnhart argued that it is also crucial to hold corporations accountable for their actions.
Councilmember Shahana Hanif has sponsored legislation to ban the collection of biometric data by stores entirely, citing concerns over civil liberties. The bill aims to prevent private actors from collecting, storing, and selling sensitive information, which Hanif believes poses a serious threat to individual freedoms.
The grocery giant has defended its use of facial recognition technology at select stores, citing an "elevated risk" as the reason for deployment. Deana Percassi, a Wegmans spokesperson, stated that cameras with facial recognition capabilities are used to identify individuals who have been previously flagged for misconduct.
However, customers and local lawmakers are still uneasy about the practice, which has sparked concerns over data protection and transparency. The technology is allegedly employed in New York City locations, where signs at store entrances inform customers that biometric information may be collected, including facial recognition, eye scans, and voiceprints.
Percassi clarified that Wegmans does not collect retinal scans or voice prints and images are retained only for security purposes. Nevertheless, the company's approach has raised eyebrows among lawmakers, with Monroe County Legislator Rachel Barnhart expressing concerns over the potential misuse of biometric data.
Barnhart noted that "biometric data is uniquely sensitive" and emphasized the importance of transparency in corporate practices. While Wegmans is a beloved institution in the Rochester community, Barnhart argued that it is also crucial to hold corporations accountable for their actions.
Councilmember Shahana Hanif has sponsored legislation to ban the collection of biometric data by stores entirely, citing concerns over civil liberties. The bill aims to prevent private actors from collecting, storing, and selling sensitive information, which Hanif believes poses a serious threat to individual freedoms.
. and whats with the signs saying biometric info may be collected? that's not enough if u ask me, we need to see more transparency from companies like Wegmans. i feel bad for Rachel Barnhart and Shahana Hanif who are fighting for our rights, its cool they're taking a stand 
70% of NYC residents are still against facial recognition in stores, even after signs at Wegmans entrances explaining the practice 
I just checked some Twitter stats - most people who support biometric data collection (27%) are actually under 30 years old 
Meanwhile, 62% of millennials think it's a bad idea to sell personal data 
Councilmember Hanif's bill is getting 85% positive engagement on Facebook 
. And what really gets me is that some of these big companies think they're above the law just because they're "beloved institutions"... newsflash, folks: that doesn't give you carte blanche to collect our biometric info without consent 
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... like Wegmans is totally hiding something from us. They're all "oh, it's just for security purposes" but what about our right to know what's going on? I mean, I get that they wanna keep their customers safe and all, but can't we have transparency too? 
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. The proposed legislation to ban biometric data collection by stores is a step in the right direction 
. As we continue to navigate the complexities of emerging technologies, it's essential that corporations prioritize transparency and respect for customers' personal boundaries 
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they're literally using facial recognition tech at some of their NYC stores without even being super clear about it and now people are getting all worked up because they don't want their faces tracked around the city 
like i get it, its a bit sketchy but can't we just have an open conversation about this instead of passing legislation to ban biometric data entirely? 
also what's with the "elevated risk" excuse? is that even a thing? 
and now lawmakers are all up in arms over it, who wouldn't be? 
i mean we already have enough issues with corporations keeping our data 
. councilmember Shahana Hanif is a genius for proposing that ban though 
her bill might not pass but at least she's speaking out against it 
. And honestly, who needs that much info on you just to shop at Wegmans? It's already crazy enough having signs up saying they might collect your face pics or voiceprints... it just feels invasive 
. I'm all for corporations doing their part in keeping people safe, but can't we just have some transparency about what we're getting ourselves into here? 
! i mean its not just about privacy, its about corporations having too much power over our lives. we need more transparency and accountability here. can't let these corps get away w/ it 
). It feels like a slippery slope when companies start collecting biometric data for "security purposes" - what's next? Selling our fingerprints online?
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It's all about keeping it transparent, you know? And let's not forget, biometric data is super sensitive info 
. Wegmans can keep its fancy tech for now, I'm teaming up with Councilmember Hanif on this one 
I don't think it's a good idea for companies to be collecting our biometric info without us even knowing about it, you know? like what if the data gets hacked or something? and what's up with the lack of transparency from Wegmans? shouldn't they just be upfront about what they're doing with our faces 
and I think we should definitely have some laws in place to prevent corporations from collecting our sensitive info without consent 
And what about all that data they're collectin'? Who's gonna keep it safe from gettin' sold to the highest bidder? 
And what about those cameras? Are they even secure? Can anyone hack into 'em and get access to our biometric info? 
This whole thing just smells fishy to me...