Cybersecurity concern at Kroger? Shoppers in uproar over alleged new policy—here’s what you need to know
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In an era where technology strides forward at an unprecedented pace, the line between convenience and privacy often blurs.
This tension has recently come to a head with rumors swirling around Kroger, one of America's largest supermarket chains, and their alleged use of facial recognition technology.
Let’s unpack the story, address the concerns, and offer insights into the broader implications for our community. Should you be worried?
Kroger is one of the major retailers that has started to apply more advanced technology in its stores, especially at its self-checkout feature since they partnered with Evergreen, an artificial intelligence company, in 2023.
Aside from this, Kroger also installed high-resolution cameras at the self-checkout kiosks which “helped prevent theft or accidental misscanning” of their products by observing customer behavior and preventing the transaction from pushing through if there were concerns.
Reports from The New York Times and The Nation emerged saying that Kroger was planning to implement facial recognition across its 2,750 stores nationwide. This speculation started
The purported goal? To analyze customer demographics and shopping habits, then tailor advertisements and potentially adjust pricing in real-time.
The fire was fueled by a letter from Senator Elizabeth Warren and former Senator Robert Casey Jr., which claimed Kroger was collaborating with Microsoft to"place cameras at its digital displays, which will use facial recognition tools to determine the gender and age of a customer."
The technology would allegedly identify customers by age and gender, then push personalized product deals to their phones based on past purchases.
Cybersecurity consultant Dave Hatter shed light on how such technology operates, "It scans your face, converts it to some sort of data based on its algorithm, and then compares that to a database to say, 'OK, can I identify this person.'"
Kroger, however, has firmly denied these allegations. A spokesperson for the company assured the public that no facial recognition technology is used in conjunction with electronic shelf labels or pricing.
They emphasized that privacy and security are paramount when considering new in-store technology.
"Kroger does not use facial recognition technology in connection with electronic shelf labels or pricing," a Kroger spokesperson shared with The US Sun. "Whenever we consider new technology in our stores, privacy and security are always key considerations."
Source: CBS News / Youtube.
"When we collect personal information, we do so with a commitment to transparency and addressing all applicable privacy requirements," the spokesperson assured.
Despite Kroger's denials, the mere suggestion of facial recognition has led to a backlash, with some customers vowing to boycott the retailer.
"And just like that, I will no longer be shopping at @kroger," a longtime shopper, Jon, wrote in a post on social media this month.
Also read: Kroger faces major “checkout issues”, sparking outrage and loyalty concerns
Have you encountered similar privacy concerns while shopping? How do you balance the convenience of modern technology with the desire for privacy? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below!
This tension has recently come to a head with rumors swirling around Kroger, one of America's largest supermarket chains, and their alleged use of facial recognition technology.
Let’s unpack the story, address the concerns, and offer insights into the broader implications for our community. Should you be worried?
Kroger is one of the major retailers that has started to apply more advanced technology in its stores, especially at its self-checkout feature since they partnered with Evergreen, an artificial intelligence company, in 2023.
Aside from this, Kroger also installed high-resolution cameras at the self-checkout kiosks which “helped prevent theft or accidental misscanning” of their products by observing customer behavior and preventing the transaction from pushing through if there were concerns.
Reports from The New York Times and The Nation emerged saying that Kroger was planning to implement facial recognition across its 2,750 stores nationwide. This speculation started
The purported goal? To analyze customer demographics and shopping habits, then tailor advertisements and potentially adjust pricing in real-time.
Kroger has denied the implementation of facial recognition software in its stores, after consumer privacy concerns surfaced. Image source: Mike D. Riley / Facebook.
The fire was fueled by a letter from Senator Elizabeth Warren and former Senator Robert Casey Jr., which claimed Kroger was collaborating with Microsoft to"place cameras at its digital displays, which will use facial recognition tools to determine the gender and age of a customer."
The technology would allegedly identify customers by age and gender, then push personalized product deals to their phones based on past purchases.
Cybersecurity consultant Dave Hatter shed light on how such technology operates, "It scans your face, converts it to some sort of data based on its algorithm, and then compares that to a database to say, 'OK, can I identify this person.'"
Kroger, however, has firmly denied these allegations. A spokesperson for the company assured the public that no facial recognition technology is used in conjunction with electronic shelf labels or pricing.
They emphasized that privacy and security are paramount when considering new in-store technology.
"Kroger does not use facial recognition technology in connection with electronic shelf labels or pricing," a Kroger spokesperson shared with The US Sun. "Whenever we consider new technology in our stores, privacy and security are always key considerations."
Source: CBS News / Youtube.
"When we collect personal information, we do so with a commitment to transparency and addressing all applicable privacy requirements," the spokesperson assured.
Despite Kroger's denials, the mere suggestion of facial recognition has led to a backlash, with some customers vowing to boycott the retailer.
"And just like that, I will no longer be shopping at @kroger," a longtime shopper, Jon, wrote in a post on social media this month.
Also read: Kroger faces major “checkout issues”, sparking outrage and loyalty concerns
Have you encountered similar privacy concerns while shopping? How do you balance the convenience of modern technology with the desire for privacy? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below!
