CT Insider reports that “as Connecticut lawmakers look to ban facial recognition technology in retail establishments, one popular grocery chain is already using the tech at stores across the state.”
That chain is ShopRite, and it is in the news in the wake of media scrutiny of the practice. Wegmans has said it is using the technology in some of its stores, but seems to be just informing customers of its use in New York City, where legislation requires it. The publicity has led a number of Connecticut lawmakers to propose banning use of the technology in retail establishments.
Here’s how CT Insider frames the story:
“CT Insider visited eight of the 28 ShopRite stores across Connecticut Thursday night, from Stamford to East Haven. Seven of the stores had signs at the entrance warning customers that facial recognition technology was in use at the store, and despite no visible sign, staff at the eighth location, in East Haven, said the store was also collecting customers’ biometric data.
“The signage, printed on an 8×11 paper, was posted at the entrance to each store, but was often out of customers’ direct line of sight or next to a mix of signs displaying pharmacy hours, allergy alerts and other notices … The signs all had ‘November 2024’ printed in their bottom right corner, possibly indicating when they were posted.”
CT Insider writes that none of the half dozen shoppers to whom its reporters spoke “knew their biometric information was being recorded.”
The story goes on:
“The collection of biometric data has been in use for several years, according to Karen O’Shea, a spokesperson for Wakefern, the parent company of ShopRite. She said “advances in technology — including biometrics — allow retailers to better identify organized retail crime and repeat offenders in stores.”
“‘ShopRite stores in Connecticut use a range of security measures, including biometric tools, to protect those who shop and work with us,’ O’Shea said in a statement. ‘The technology is not used for any other purpose. Video footage is regularly deleted, never sold, and may be shared with law enforcement when a crime occurs’.”
The story notes that “Stew Leonard’s and Stop & Shop confirmed Wednesday that they did not use facial recognition technology. Other grocers with a major presence in Connecticut, including Aldi, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and Big Y did not respond to questions about whether they were collecting customers’ biometric data.”
KC’s View:
Here’s my advice, which you are perfectly welcome to dismiss as being worth exactly what you are paying for it.
If you are using the technology, be transparent about it. Explain – clearly, openly and as publicly as possible – why you are using it. Why it is beneficial to shoppers, not a threat.
Don’t deceive, evade or equivocate.
In this case, if the media reaches out, answer the call. Don’t give the media room to postulate or speculate.
The debate and hypothesizing around this issue leads me to believe that this is not an issue that will go away, and that questions about the use of facial recognition software are likely to be posed to retailers all over the country.
And lest retailers begin to believe that they are victims here, let me suggest that this, in fact, is the media’s job. These all are legitimate questions, worthy of being asked and answered. So even if the media has not yet come calling, retailers should be prepared.
The post Facial Recognition Continues To Be Focus Of Controversy appeared first on MNB.
View Original Article
