A new lawsuit
accuses Amazon of failing to inform some New York City customers that
it was monitoring them using facial recognition and other biometric-tracking technology.
The complaint claims Amazon violated NYC's Biometric Identifier Information Law, which requires businesses to post signage informing customers that their biometrics are being collected.
- Amazon
uses AI-powered "Just Walk Out" technology, including sensors and
cameras, in some stores that can track the whereabouts of customers and
determine what they purchase.
- The new lawsuit accuses Amazon of
violating consumer rights privacy laws when it failed to post an
obvious sign informing customers of the monitoring at an Amazon Go store
at 80 Pine Street in New York City.
- In the complaint,
plaintiff Rodriguez Perez says Amazon did post a sign this month but it
"fails to disclose that Amazon converts and retains biometric identifier
information."
- While the sign says Amazon does not collect customers' biometric info unless they use its palm scanner, the suit claims Amazon's Go stores do collect other biometric data such as "the size and shape of every customer's body."
- In response,
Amazon said it doesn't use facial recognition at any stores. Only
customers who choose to use its palm scanner have that biometric data
collected, and they are provided a privacy disclosure during enrollment,
it said.
