Customers accuse delivery robots of scanning faces, sharing biometric data

Two Chicago customers have sued the firms behind the city’s food delivery robots, accusing them of collecting biometric data without consent.

Mitchell Breidinger and Barry Schain filed separate class-action lawsuits in Cook County court on October 9 against Coco Robotics and Serve Robotics. They allege violations of the Illinois Biometric Privacy Act, claiming the robots’ cameras and LiDAR scanned their faces and hands as they collected orders.

According to the Associated Press, citing Block Club Chicago, the suits also allege the companies retain the data to train artificial intelligence systems and link it to customers’ names and addresses.

Both companies deny the claims. A Coco spokesperson said: “This lawsuit fundamentally misunderstands our technology, we have not collected biometric data in Chicago.” Serve said it “will defend against” the lawsuit.

The plaintiffs seek $1,000 per negligent violation or $5,000 per intentional or reckless violation.

Chicago’s robot pilot programme, launched in 2022, expires in May 2027 unless the City Council approves an extension.