Grocery Store Now Using Facial Recognition and Biometric Data Against its Own Customers

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — Fairway recently posted a sign outside of its Upper West Side store that states the business is using facial and voice recognition technology.

“This Business collects, retains, converts, stores, or shares customers’ biometric identifier information, which is information that can be used to identify or help identify you,” the sign posted to the front door at Broadway and West 74th Street reads. “Examples of biometric identifier information are eye scans and voiceprints.”

Wakefern Food Corporation, the parent company of Fairway, did not respond to a call from Patch, but it sent a statement about the technology to ILoveTheUpperWestSide, which was the first publication to report on the technology within the incredibly popular UWS store.

“This technology is helping our stores reduce retail crime, an industry-wide challenge that has increased dramatically over the last few years,” Karen O’Shea, a spokeswoman for Wakefern, told ILoveTheUpperWestSide. “Only trained asset protection associates use the system, which helps us focus attention on repeat shoplifters.”

Businesses that use facial recognition technology are legally required to post signage to inform patrons.