Wegmans Collection Of Biometric Data Spurs New Law In Western New York

As the people of Western and Central New York State find out more about the facial recognition and biometric data programs that Wegmans has been using in New York City, folks around town are becoming less happy with one of the region's favorite grocers. That, of course, should come as no surprise to the powers that be at Wegmans and across the region, as more people have been questioning the amount of mass surveillance that we have to deal with all over Western New York.

With local police, state, and federal police departments tracking us just about everywhere we go, it just seems that it's nearly impossible for you to go anywhere without being monitored, scanned, and having your likeness and activities stored and analyzed by AI. Some agencies even want access to your personal security cameras.

But as the outrage grows about the large amounts of surveillance that's happening, we may have a new law in Western New York to help protect our privacy and the use of our likeness while outside.

Erie County May Enact New Law To Curtail Retail Surveillance

Every day, people in Western New York aren't the only ones upset by hearing about what happened in some Wegmans stores in NYC; it seems that at least two lawmakers in the Buffalo area are just as bothered, and they are looking to use thier legislative power to do something about it.

Erie County Legislator Lindsay Lorigo is proposing a new law that will make sure retailers notify thier customers if they are using any facial recognition, artificial intelligence, or if they are collecting any biometric data from their customers.

According to WIVB-TV, who spoke with Legislator Lorigo, the proposed Customer Biometric Privacy Act has the intended goal to make sure stores are transparent about what they do with our personal information.

If a business is collecting biometric data, customers deserve to know... This proposal is about transparency and giving people basic awareness when their personal information is being captured.... This proposal isn’t about stopping technology, it’s about transparency... Every day we choose to opt in when we share personal information through our phones or apps. When biometric data is being collected in a store, customers should have that same awareness.
-Erie County Legislator Lindsay Lorigo speaking with WIVB

Wegmans is not the first retailer to use such technology; it's been known for years that places like Walmart, Rite Aid, Home Depot, and even Madison Square Garden have used the technology for years.

This isn't the only proposed law to regulate this technology; there is also a bill in the New York State Senate that would regulate things on the State level.

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