Wegmans is scanning for savings—and your biometrics

That quick run to Wegmans? It might be remembering you longer than you remember it.

The grocery chain’s locations in New York City recently began collecting biometric data from customers, including scans of faces, eyes, and voice recordings, per a new report from The Gothamist.

Catch up quick: Previously, Wegmans said it only gathered this type of data from a small number of employees, and promised to delete any biometric data it collected from shoppers.

• But the company recently expanded its pilot program to include shoppers as well, saying the data will be used to “protect the safety and security of our patrons and employees.”
• Privacy advocates and some loyal customers have voiced opposition to the change, citing fears that customers’ biometric data could be sold to other companies or shared with authorities without their consent.

Zoom out: Other grocery and retail locations—like Fairway Market, Westside Market, and Walgreen’s—already implement similar biometric data collection systems in stores across NYC’s five boroughs, according to Crain’s. And billionaire James Dolan has made recent headlines for using biometric recognition to exclude his enemies from performances and sporting events at NYC’s Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall.