# Grocery merger could expand retail surveillance network

A grocery merger could give the combined company a larger network of stores and consumer data, making it easier to deploy surveillance technologies such as facial recognition. Privacy advocates warn that broader monitoring across more locations could affect shoppers and workers. The merger’s regulatory review may therefore have implications beyond prices and competition.

**Importance:** 3/5

## Sources

### Technology
- [The Verge](https://www.theverge.com/policy/1020187/kroger-grocery-merger-surveillance) — 2026-10-28T08:00:00-04:00