Which Companies Use Facial Recognition? The 2026 List

Which companies use facial recognition? In the places most people encounter it—facial recognition retail stores and facial recognition airports—the answer is a mix of confirmed users, confirmed non-users, and companies that won’t say. Based on verified public records and disclosures, Wegmans facial recognition is confirmed in some NYC-area stores (as of January 2026), while does Target use facial recognition remains disputed in an active Illinois lawsuit and Target denies it.

• What this list means (and what it doesn’t)
• What is facial recognition?
• How does facial recognition work in retail stores and airports?
• Full list: which companies use facial recognition (confirmed, denied, unknown)
• Does Walmart use facial recognition?
• Wegmans facial recognition: what’s confirmed (Jan 2026)
• Does Target use facial recognition? (Denied, lawsuit ongoing)
• Facial recognition airports: TSA and major airlines
• Why it matters: mistakes, bias, and real-world fallout
• Is facial recognition in stores legal? Key US laws
• What you can do today (practical steps)
• FAQ
• Conclusion: which companies use facial recognition—and how to push back

What this list means (and what it doesn’t)

This explainer is built only from the verified items in the research context you provided: official enforcement actions, named laws, a documented civil lawsuit posture (e.g., motion-to-dismiss outcomes), and companies’ on-the-record responses (or refusal to respond) to a 2024 ACLU survey.

Because most US retail facial recognition programs aren’t publicly audited, “no public confirmation” does not mean “definitely not using it.” It means the company has not confirmed it in the sources listed here (and in some cases has declined to answer direct questions).

What is facial recognition?

Facial recognition is a biometric technology that uses your face to identify or verify you. In practice, it typically works by turning a face image into a “face template” (a biometric identifier) and comparing it against another template stored in a database.

People often confuse facial recognition with “regular” camera surveillance. A camera that records video is not automatically facial recognition. Facial recognition is when the system tries to match a face to a known identity or a pre-built watchlist.

How does facial recognition work in retail stores and airports?

In both facial recognition retail stores and facial recognition airports, the basic flow is similar: capture a face image, convert it to a biometric template, and compare it to a stored template.

In retail stores

Retail deployments discussed in the research context are typically framed as “loss prevention.” For example, Lowe’s told the ACLU (2024 survey) it uses facial recognition to identify known shoplifters, and that it does not retain data on people who don’t match its database.

Wegmans is confirmed (as of January 2026) to be using facial recognition in “a small fraction” of its NYC/Brooklyn stores to identify people previously flagged for misconduct/shoplifting.

In airports

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has rolled out a program often described as “Touchless ID.” As of December 2024, TSA facial recognition is operating at 80 US airports and is expanding toward nationwide availability. TSA states the program is fully opt-in and that captured photos are deleted within 24 hours after identity verification against a passport/visa template.

Major airlines participate at select airports, including Delta Air Lines (biometric bag drop and boarding at Atlanta, Detroit, LAX, JFK, LaGuardia) and United Airlines (supports TSA Touchless ID at O’Hare and LAX; opt-in via its app). The research context notes all major US airlines (Alaska, American, Delta, Southwest, United, Hawaiian) are participating in TSA’s program at select airports.

Full list: which companies use facial recognition (confirmed, denied, unknown)

Below is a single, plain-English list grouped by what is actually verified: confirmed users, confirmed non-users, denied use (but disputed in court or public reporting), declined to respond, and banned/stopped.

Comparison: who uses facial recognition (based on verified disclosures)

• Confirmed use in retail: Wegmans (Jan 2026, some NYC/Brooklyn stores); Lowe’s (confirmed to ACLU in 2024)
• Confirmed non-use in retail: Ahold Delhaize brands (Food Lion, Stop & Shop, Giant, Hannaford) confirmed to ACLU (2024) it does not use facial recognition
• Denied use (but allegations/litigation exist): Target (denies; BIPA class action ongoing after motion to dismiss denied Nov 2024); Home Depot (denied to Fortune; BIPA suit filed Aug 2025, later voluntarily dismissed without prejudice Nov 2025); Amazon Go (denies facial recognition; NYC biometric signage lawsuit’s motion to dismiss denied Nov 2024)
• Declined to respond to ACLU (2024): Walmart, Kroger, Costco, CVS, Walgreens, Best Buy, McDonald’s, Macy’s
• Banned/stopped: Rite Aid (FTC ban for 5 years, Dec 2023); Meta/Facebook (shut down Tag Suggestions in 2021; deleted 1+ billion facial recognition profiles)
• Major non-retail examples: TSA (Touchless ID at 80 airports as of Dec 2024); Delta and United (opt-in programs at specific airports); Madison Square Garden (used facial recognition to eject certain attorneys, 2022–2023)

Retail: confirmed facial recognition users

• Wegmans: Confirmed use as of January 2026 in a “small fraction” of NYC/Brooklyn stores, to identify people previously flagged for misconduct/shoplifting. The NYCLU published a response calling on New York lawmakers to ban it. A bill, NYC Int 0213-2026 (introduced March 2026), would ban biometric scanning in stores; it has not passed (per the research context).
• Lowe’s: Confirmed to the ACLU (2024 survey) it uses facial recognition to identify known shoplifters, and it states it does not retain data on people who don’t match its database.

Retail: confirmed non-user

• Ahold Delhaize (Food Lion, Stop & Shop, Giant, Hannaford): The research context identifies it as the only major retailer to explicitly confirm to the ACLU (2024) that it does not use facial recognition.

Retail: denied use (but disputed/alleged)

• Target: Denies use. An Illinois BIPA class action in the Northern District of Illinois alleges facial recognition at self-checkout without consent. A federal judge denied Target’s motion to dismiss in November 2024; the case is ongoing.
• Home Depot: Denied use to Fortune and declined to answer the ACLU survey. A BIPA class action, Jankowski v. Home Depot, was filed August 2025 regarding 76 Illinois locations and was voluntarily dismissed November 2025 without prejudice (meaning it could be refiled).
• Amazon Go: Denies facial recognition and says it uses computer vision and sensor fusion. Separately, it was sued in NYC for failing to post required biometric data collection signage; a motion to dismiss was denied November 2024 (per the research context).

Retail: declined to respond (so the public can’t confirm)

If your question is “does walmart use facial recognition?” or “does walmart have facial recognition?” it’s important to understand this category. The companies below did not provide a confirming or denying answer to the ACLU’s 2024 survey, often citing “proprietary” or “competitive” reasons.

• Walmart
• Kroger
• Costco
• CVS
• Walgreens
• Best Buy
• McDonald’s
• Macy’s

Banned or stopped (important context)

• Rite Aid: In December 2023, the FTC banned Rite Aid from using facial recognition for 5 years. The FTC found Rite Aid “recklessly deployed” the technology and that it generated thousands of false positives that disproportionately targeted Black, Latino, and Asian customers. The order required Rite Aid to delete biometric data collected from 2012–2020 (all as described in the research context). You can read the official enforcement page on the Federal Trade Commission website.
• Meta/Facebook: Shut down “Tag Suggestions” in 2021 and deleted 1+ billion facial recognition profiles. In July 2024, Meta paid $1.4 billion to Texas to settle claims of unauthorized facial recognition via tag suggestions, described in the research context as the largest single-state privacy settlement ever.

Not retail, but relevant: Clearview AI and Madison Square Garden

• Clearview AI: The research context states it has 50+ billion images scraped from platforms including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Venmo without consent, and is used by 3,100+ US law enforcement agencies. It includes a $9.2M ICE contract (2025) and a $10M federal contract (September 2025), described as the largest US government contract. It also notes a BIPA class action settlement providing a $51.75M equity stake (March 2025), multiple GDPR fines totaling over $100M across European jurisdictions, and at least 8 people wrongfully arrested due to false matches.
• Madison Square Garden (MSG): Used facial recognition to identify and eject attorneys from law firms in active litigation against MSG (2022–2023). A proposed class action was dismissed in May 2024 (per the research context).

Does Walmart use facial recognition?

If you searched does walmart use facial recognition (or does walmart have facial recognition), here’s the most accurate answer we can support with the provided sources: Walmart has not publicly confirmed or denied it in the ACLU’s 2024 survey. Walmart is listed in the research context as having declined to respond, citing “proprietary” or “competitive” reasons.

So: there is no verified “yes” or “no” here—only that Walmart did not provide a public answer in that specific, documented inquiry.

Wegmans facial recognition: what’s confirmed (Jan 2026)

Wegmans facial recognition is one of the few retail uses in this explainer that is confirmed as active in the research context. As of January 2026, Wegmans is confirmed to use facial recognition in a “small fraction” of its NYC/Brooklyn stores, aimed at identifying people previously flagged for misconduct/shoplifting.

The research context also notes a civil-rights response: the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) published a response calling on New York lawmakers to ban facial recognition in stores. On the policy side, NYC Int 0213-2026 (introduced March 2026) would ban biometric scanning in stores, but is not yet passed.

Does Target use facial recognition? (Denied, lawsuit ongoing)

If you searched does target use facial recognition, here’s the verified status: Target denies using facial recognition, but an Illinois lawsuit claims otherwise.

The research context describes a BIPA class action in the Northern District of Illinois alleging facial recognition at self-checkout without consent. A federal judge denied Target’s motion to dismiss in November 2024, so the case is still alive (and the allegation has not been resolved on the merits in the information provided).

Why that matters: Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) is widely described (in the research context) as the strongest US consumer biometric protection because it requires written consent and allows people to sue.

Facial recognition airports: TSA and major airlines

Facial recognition airports are often the most visible, “mainstream” place people run into face scans—especially at bag drop or boarding.

TSA “Touchless ID” (80 airports as of Dec 2024)

According to the research context, the TSA program operates at 80 US airports as of December 2024 and is expanding toward nationwide use. It compares a live photo to a passport/visa template and is described as fully opt-in, with photos deleted within 24 hours.

Airports named in the research context include Atlanta, O’Hare, DFW, Denver, JFK, LAX, and SFO.

Airlines participating (opt-in programs at select airports)

• Delta Air Lines: Biometric bag drop and boarding at Atlanta, Detroit, LAX, JFK, LaGuardia; states it does not store biometric data.
• United Airlines: Supports TSA Touchless ID at O’Hare and LAX; opt-in via app.
• Other major airlines: The research context states Alaska, American, Delta, Southwest, United, and Hawaiian are participating in TSA’s program at select airports.

Practical note: per the research context, TSA/airline face scans are optional and you can always use physical ID instead.

Why it matters: mistakes, bias, and real-world fallout

Facial recognition isn’t just a “privacy” issue in the abstract. The research context includes multiple real-world outcomes: false matches, unequal impacts, and documented enforcement actions.

1) False positives can have real consequences

The FTC’s Rite Aid case is a concrete example. In December 2023, the FTC found Rite Aid “recklessly deployed” facial recognition and that it generated thousands of false positives, disproportionately targeting Black, Latino, and Asian customers. The penalty wasn’t small: a 5-year ban on using facial recognition and a requirement to delete biometric data collected from 2012–2020.

2) Some systems are built on massive, non-consensual image collections

The research context states Clearview AI built a database of 50+ billion images scraped from platforms including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Venmo without consent, and that its matches have been tied to at least 8 wrongful arrests. That’s a reminder that even if you never “opt in,” your face may still end up in someone else’s database.

3) “It’s for security” can expand into gatekeeping

Madison Square Garden’s use (as described in the research context) shows how facial recognition can be used to enforce institutional power: identifying and ejecting attorneys whose firms were litigating against MSG (2022–2023). Even though a proposed class action was dismissed (May 2024), the underlying use illustrates why people worry about retaliation and blacklists.

Is facial recognition in stores legal? Key US laws

In the US, there is no single federal law that gives everyone a clear, universal “opt out” right for retail facial recognition. Instead, your rights depend heavily on your state (and sometimes your city).

Illinois: BIPA (strong consent rule + lawsuits allowed)

Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) is described in the research context as the strongest consumer protection law for biometrics. It requires written consent before collecting biometric identifiers and includes a private right of action (you can sue).

The research context also notes an August 2024 amendment: damages are now calculated per person (not per scan). That reduced some litigation exposure, but the consent requirement and core protections remain in force.

For the text and status of federal and state bills, a good starting point is Congress.gov (for federal proposals) and your state legislature site (for state bills).

California: CCPA/CPRA (biometrics are “sensitive”)

In California, the CCPA/CPRA treats biometric data as “Sensitive Personal Information” and provides rights to know, access, opt out, and delete (as summarized in the research context). Those are meaningful rights, but they’re not the same as an outright ban on use.

Texas: CUBI (consent, but AG enforcement only)

Texas’ CUBI requires consent, but enforcement is by the Texas Attorney General only (no private right of action), per the research context. This is the law context tied to the research context’s note that Meta paid $1.4B to Texas in July 2024 over unauthorized facial recognition via Tag Suggestions.

New York City: disclosure signage (not a ban)

NYC Local Law 3 of 2021 (effective July 9, 2021) requires commercial establishments to post clear signage if they’re collecting biometric data. The research context is explicit: it doesn’t ban collection—it requires disclosure.

Separately, the research context notes NYC Int 0213-2026 (introduced March 2026) would ban biometric scanning in stores, but is not yet passed.

Airports: opt-in is the key rule (in the provided sources)

In the research context, TSA and airline programs are described as fully opt-in. In plain terms: you can decline and still travel by using physical ID.

For civil liberties framing and travel identity issues, groups like the ACLU and Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) often publish explainers and updates.

What you can do today (practical steps)

You can’t control every camera in public. But you can reduce surprise, make better choices, and create a paper trail when something feels off.

1. Look for biometric signage in NYC. NYC Local Law 3 of 2021 requires disclosure signs if biometric data is collected. If there’s no sign and you suspect face scanning, document it (date, time, location) and consider contacting local officials.
2. Use the opt-in rule at airports. The research context states TSA’s “Touchless ID” is fully opt-in and you can use physical ID. If you don’t want a face scan, say so and proceed with the standard ID check.
3. If you’re in Illinois, take BIPA seriously. BIPA requires written consent before collecting biometric identifiers. If you believe a company captured your face template without consent, save receipts, screenshots, and store location details.
4. Ask the simple question in-store: “Do you use facial recognition here?” If staff can’t answer, ask for a manager or corporate contact. Even a non-answer is useful information when shared with consumer groups or reporters.
5. Track patterns, not rumors. Focus on what’s confirmed: Wegmans (confirmed Jan 2026 in some NYC/Brooklyn stores), Lowe’s (confirmed to ACLU 2024), Ahold Delhaize (confirmed non-user to ACLU 2024), and high-profile enforcement like Rite Aid (FTC, Dec 2023).
6. Get involved locally. City and state rules matter most for retail. If you’re in NYC, follow proposals like Int 0213-2026 (introduced March 2026; not passed per the research context) and tell your council member what you want: disclosure, limits, or a ban.

For a deeper look at the civil liberties and bias concerns behind these corporate practices, see our guide to facial recognition ethics.

If you want to go deeper on how to recognize face-based deception and misuse, Ban the Bots also tracks related issues like deepfakes and surveillance in our explainers (see /explainers/deepfakes and /explainers/facial-recognition).

FAQ

Which retail stores are confirmed to use facial recognition?

Based on the research context, Wegmans (in a small fraction of NYC/Brooklyn stores as of January 2026) and Lowe’s (confirmed to the ACLU in 2024) are confirmed retail users.

Is there a full list of every store that uses facial recognition?

No single official US registry exists in the research context. That’s why this explainer separates confirmed use from denied use and companies that declined to respond (like Walmart and others in the ACLU’s 2024 survey).

Are airports using facial recognition on everyone?

Not according to the research context: TSA’s program is described as fully opt-in, and you can use physical ID. As of December 2024, TSA facial recognition was operating at 80 airports and expanding toward nationwide coverage.

What’s the strongest law protecting consumers from facial recognition?

In the provided sources, Illinois BIPA is described as the strongest consumer protection because it requires written consent and allows private lawsuits. The research context notes an August 2024 amendment that changes damages to be calculated per person (not per scan), but the law remains in force.

What happened with Rite Aid and facial recognition?

The research context states the FTC banned Rite Aid from using facial recognition for five years (December 2023) after finding it “recklessly deployed” the technology, producing thousands of false positives disproportionately affecting Black, Latino, and Asian customers, and required deletion of biometric data collected from 2012–2020.

Conclusion: which companies use facial recognition—and how to push back

If you came here asking which companies use facial recognition—or specifically does walmart use facial recognition, wegmans facial recognition, and does target use facial recognition—the most honest answer is: confirmed retail use is documented for Wegmans (Jan 2026, some NYC/Brooklyn stores) and Lowe’s (ACLU 2024), Target denies use but faces an active BIPA case (motion to dismiss denied Nov 2024), and Walmart’s status is unconfirmed because it declined to respond to the ACLU’s 2024 survey.

Facial recognition isn’t just “new tech.” The FTC’s Rite Aid action (Dec 2023) and the ongoing disputes around retail biometrics show why people want clearer rules, real audits, and consequences for misuse.

To stay grounded in real cases and real policy fights, explore Ban the Bots’ tracking pages: /ai-lawsuits/, /ai-backlash/, and /fighting-back/. If you’re also worried about how these systems connect to broader corporate “automation” pressures, see /ai-layoffs/—and if you want to understand the physical infrastructure behind AI surveillance and data processing, check /data-center-map/.