Delaware
Wegmans confirms it’s collecting biometric data. What Delaware law says
Delaware House Representative explains importance of ‘Eric’s ID Law’
The bill establishes a voluntary option for Delawareans with nonapparent disabilities to have a butterfly symbol displayed on driver’s licenses or IDs.
In January, reports of signs notifying shoppers that their biometric data was being collected at a Wegmans store in New York City prompted the grocery chain to acknowledge that it uses facial recognition technology in a limited number of locations. The company says the cameras are part of its security strategy, but the disclosures have raised questions about whether similar surveillance are being used in other states, including Delaware.
In a statement issued after the signage drew public attention, Wegmans said facial recognition technology is used only in “a small fraction of our stores located in communities that exhibit an elevated risk.” According to the Rochester, New York-based retailer, the system collects facial recognition data only to identify individuals who have previously been flagged for misconduct.
Wegmans said it does not collect other forms of biometric data such as retinal scans or voice prints, and that images and video are retained only as long as needed for security purposes before being discarded.
When asked by Delaware Online/The News Journal whether facial recognition is used at its lone Delaware location, Wegmans did not provide a direct answer. Marcie Rivera, a spokesperson for the chain, said the company follows a single privacy policy for all shoppers nationwide. She noted the policy incorporates the privacy requirements of every state where the company operates, including Delaware.
How Delaware law protects personal data collection
All businesses operating in the First State are required to comply with Delaware’s Personal Data Privacy Act, which took effect in January 2025. Whether online or in person, the statute allows residents to opt-out of the collection of covered personal information and requires businesses to obtain consent before collecting sensitive personal data.
Personal data is defined as any information that can be linked to an identifiable individual, excluding publicly available information. This includes a name, address, phone number, email, mobile or computer device identifier.
Businesses must obtain a consumer’s expressed consent before collecting or sharing sensitive personal information, including data related to race or ethnic origin, health conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or biometric data.
The law does not automatically classify photographs, audio recordings or video recordings as protected personal data. These materials are covered only when used to identify a specific individual. Facial recognition technology, which analyzes images to match or identify a person, may therefore fall under the law depending on how it is used.
Your rights as a consumer
Even when a regulated business does not post signs about data collection, Delaware residents have the right to investigate whether a company is collecting their personal information.
Under the Delaware Personal Data Privacy Act, consumers are allowed to ask a business to:
- Confirm whether it is processing their personal data.
- Access that personal data (unless doing so would reveal a trade secret).
- Correct inaccuracies.
- Request deletion of personal data collected or obtained about them.
- Obtain a list of third parties that have received their data.
Delawareans can also opt out of targeted advertising and limit the sale of their personal information. Parents or legal guardians may exercise these rights on behalf of their children.
Requests can be made through the contact methods provided in a company’s privacy notice. Under the act, businesses may deny a consumer’s request if complying would interfere with efforts to respond to or prevent security incidents, identity theft or fraud.
Consumers have the right to appeal any decision that denies a request. If the appeal is rejected, the business must provide information that allows the consumer to contact the Attorney General’s Office to file a complaint.
Enforcement and resources
The Delaware Personal Data Privacy Act applies to companies that conduct business in Delaware or offer products or services targeted to Delaware residents and that, during the previous year, either controlled or processed the personal data of:
- at least 35,000 consumers; or
- 10,000 or more consumers and earned more than 20% of gross revenue from the sale of personal data.
Service providers that manage or process data on behalf of those companies are also included.
Enforcement of the law is handled by the Delaware Department of Justice through its Fraud and Consumer Protection Division. Residents can learn more about their privacy rights at privacy.delaware.gov. Concerns about business data practices or unresolved complaints can be directed to the department’s privacy team through the contact information listed on the site.
To share your community news and activities with our audience, join Delaware Voices Uplifted on Facebook. Nonprofits, community groups and service providers are welcome to submit their information to be added to our Community Resources Map. Contact staff reporter Anitra Johnson at ajohnson@delawareonline.com.
The Delaware Police Officer Standards and Training Commission recently announced that the Dewey Beach Police Department and Rehoboth Beach Police Department have both earned state accreditation from the Delaware Police Accreditation Commission.
As part of the rigorous process, a team of DPAC assessors ensured all accreditation standards were met by completing comprehensive, on-site inspections of each agency, reviewing their policies and procedures for compliance, and conducting interviews with department members.
“This milestone represents a significant step forward for public safety in Delaware. The initial state accreditation of these police agencies reflects a strong commitment to professionalism, accountability and excellence in law enforcement. I commend each department for their dedication to serving their communities with integrity and for upholding the highest standards,” said Joshua Bushweller, Department of Safety and Homeland Security secretary and DPAC chair.
Dover, Del. – Three farms, one from each of Delaware’s counties, were inducted into the Century Farm Program by the state Department of Agriculture on Thursday at the Delaware Agricultural Museum.
Each of the family farms has been owned and operated for at least a century. Each received a sign for their farms, an engraved plate and legislative tributes.
In addition to Secretary of Agriculture, Don Clifton, and Deputy Secretary Jimmy Kroon, state Senators David Wilson (R – District 18) and Kyra Hoffner (D – District 14) were also in attendance.
Wright Family Farms are located in Harrington in Kent County. In 1919, the farm was purchased by William Wright. Over a century later, William’s grandson, Ronald, is the owner and his great-grandson, Greg, said he hopes to continue the family legacy by buying the farm from his father.
Although the event celebrated each family for their hard work and resilience, it also highlighted the challenges farmers have to surmount to stay in business today, let alone for a hundred years.
“The price of equipment, the price of fertilizer, the price of seed, everything is just gone up,” Greg said. “So, you know, everything’s going up that we gotta purchase just to stay in business.”
Clifton, Kroon and Wilson also echoed difficulties in balancing the need to preserve agricultural land with the need to develop housing and sustainable energy projects like solar power.
“I know housing is very important, and we want people to always have good housing, but at some point, I think you’re going to saturate the area with more houses than you have food to feed these people,” Wilson said.
Kroon also said there are difficulties in keeping future generations motivated to stay in farming.
“When you think about it in the context of multi-generational farm families, there’s a real long-term challenge where a new generation may think twice about whether they want to keep farming if it’s always a struggle,” he said.
Clifton said farming has always been a challenging way of life, but it has been so since time immemorial.
“These families, their experience shows that they have an appreciation for the way of life and perseverance and that’s to be honored and emulated to the greatest extent possible,” he said.
Greg said he hopes to pass down the way of life so that his family legacy can live on for another hundred years, as well as for other families.
“A hundred years as the same family tilling the land, that’s, you know, that’s an honor right there,” Greg said. “And I hope that more farmers who are close to 100 years old will be doing the same thing. You know, keep it in the family.”
An investigation is underway after police said a man’s body was pulled from the Delaware River in South Philadelphia.
According to police, around 9 a.m. on Friday, April 17, 2026, emergency responders pulled an unidentified man from the Delaware River, near the Navy Yard. Medic’s pronounced the man dead at 9:11 a.m.
Léelo en español aquí.
SkyForce10 flew above as police and other first responders were on the scene.
NBC10
NBC10
Police are working to determine the circumstances of the incident and identify the man.
This is a developing story; check back here for updates.
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