I missed this story when Biometric Update originally published it:
“Facial recognition systems are scanning shoppers as they enter a growing number of Grocery Outlet stores in the San Francisco Bay Area, comparing their faces against watchlists of people suspected of theft, violence, or other unlawful conduct.
“Signs disclosing the use of biometric face-matching software have been documented at Grocery Outlet stores in Pleasant Hill and Concord, as well as four San Francisco locations in the Mission, Portola, Bayview, and Richmond districts.
“The signs direct customers to the privacy policy for SAFR Guard, the system being used by the stores.”
Author Anthony Kimery notes that there are privacy concerns related to those people whose images are captured, but whose faces are NOT on a watchlist.
In addition, Grocery Outlet operates through independent operators, adding one complication to any concerns about privacy violations.
But at least Grocery Outlet isn’t located in Illinois, where their scanning of everybody’s faces could get them (and their independent operators) into BIPA trouble. They are primarily a Pacific (California, Oregon, Washington) and Atlantic (Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania) operation.
Bredemarket 