This article digs into the growing controversy around facial recognition technology in Connecticut grocery stores. New reporting found ShopRite using biometric surveillance across much of the state.
The discovery sparked swift reaction from lawmakers. It’s raised consumer privacy worries and set up a showdown over possible legislation that could ban the practice in retail stores.
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Facial Recognition Found in Connecticut ShopRite Stores
After months of investigating, CT Insider reporters visited eight ShopRite locations across Connecticut. Nearly all used some form of facial recognition technology.
Seven stores posted small signs by the entrance warning customers about biometric data collection. At the eighth, employees confirmed the tech was active, even though there was no visible notice.
The signs, dated November 2024, say in-store cameras capture “face geometry” for safety and security. They tell shoppers to check an online privacy policy for details about how data is collected, stored, and shared.
Reporters visited stores in Vernon, Norwalk, Hamden, New Haven, Bridgeport, Waterbury, Stamford, and Danbury. That’s a pretty wide net.
How ShopRite Says the Technology Works
ShopRite’s parent company, Wakefern Food Corp., claims facial recognition helps fight organized retail theft. It’s also used to spot repeat offenders who’ve been banned from stores.
Wakefern says the system makes employees safer and cuts down on theft. They insist it doesn’t target regular shoppers.
Shoppers React With Surprise and Concern
Despite those posted notices, many customers told CT Insider they had no clue their faces were being scanned while picking up groceries. Some felt uneasy about the lack of obvious signage and worried about privacy—or even profiling.
Others shrugged it off, pointing out that surveillance cameras are already everywhere in Connecticut, from downtown Hartford to suburban shopping centers. Still, the gap between what stores disclose and what shoppers notice seems pretty clear.
Previous Scrutiny and Broader Industry Questions
This isn’t the first time facial recognition at Connecticut grocery stores has raised eyebrows. A Vernon ShopRite faced similar questions in 2023 over its signage. The new findings show the practice has only grown since then.
The issue goes beyond ShopRite. Wegmans wouldn’t say whether it uses facial recognition at its Norwalk store, even after reporters flagged its use in New York City.
Connecticut Lawmakers Move Toward a Ban
State leaders are now stepping in. Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff of Norwalk and Sen. James Maroney of Milford say they’ll introduce legislation banning retailers from collecting biometric data.
The proposed bill would prohibit facial recognition, retinal scans, and voice recognition in stores. It’s a response to growing concern that privacy laws just haven’t kept up with technology.
If this passes, Connecticut could join a small but growing group of states putting strict limits on biometric surveillance. For shoppers from New London to Torrington, the debate stirs up a pretty basic question: how much surveillance is too much when you’re just trying to buy groceries?
Lawmakers are gearing up for the next legislative session. This issue isn’t going anywhere—it’s likely to stay in the public spotlight for a while.
Here is the source article for this story: ShopRite uses facial recognition technology in Connecticut stores
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