Comment by Lio

I don’t know about the US but in the UK they did it ostensibly to catch shoplifters.

We have a major problem with “professional” thieves stealing because the big chains don’t want to pay cashiers anymore.

You see a screen with your face on it in places like Waitrose self service checkouts now. It’s their way of saying “we know who you are”.

Tracking cash purchases is just a side bonus for them.