How a grocery merger could expand a surveillance network

<figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Kroger" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22487786/Kroger_Delivery_x_Drone_Express_05.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Kroger's <a href="https://ir.kroger.com/news/news-details/2026/Kroger-Announces-Agreement-to-Acquire-Giant-Eagle/default.aspx">$1.65 billion proposed acquisition</a> of Giant Eagle might not only consolidate the grocery market, but also a vast surveillance network that includes Flock cameras, a <a href="https://www.economicliberties.us/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Big-Grocery-is-Watching-You-Krogers-Merger-with-Giant-Eagle-Will-Increase-Customer-Surveillance.pdf">new report</a> warns.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Beyond standard concerns that a merger could decrease competition and increase prices, the American Economic Liberties Project (AELP), which advocates for competition policy reforms, says that the consolidation could also expand customer surveillance by a single company. It comes at a time where Americans are particularly <a href="https://www.theverge.com/features/1017836/flock-huntington-west-virginia-surveillance-ballot-measure">on-edge about surveillance technologies like Flock cameras</a> and <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/consumer-concerns-grow-as-retailers-adopt-ai-assisted-pricing-tools">surveillance pricing</a>, heading into a midterm election largely defined …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/policy/1020187/kroger-grocery-merger-surveillance">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>