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Facial Scans by Delivery Robots Spark Lawsuits
22 Oct
Summary
- Lawsuits allege delivery robots collected facial and hand measurements without consent.
- Illinois' biometric privacy law requires written notice and consent for data collection.
- Companies deny allegations, stating robots use cameras for navigation, not identification.
Proposed class-action lawsuits have been filed in Illinois against food delivery robot companies Coco Robotics and Serve Robotics. The legal actions, initiated in Cook County on October 9, 2026, allege that the companies' robots collected biometric data, specifically facial and hand measurements, from customers and passersby without obtaining proper written notice or consent.
One lawsuit, filed by Mitchell Breidinger, claims a Coco robot recorded his face and hand geometry during a grocery order delivery on September 29, 2026. It further alleges that Coco Robotics shared this data with third parties, including OpenAI. Barry Schain's lawsuit against Serve Robotics makes similar claims regarding deliveries received through Uber Eats, most recently on October 4, 2026, alleging the company licenses data for AI training.
Serve Robotics has stated its robots use cameras and sensors for safe navigation and do not identify individuals or create biometric profiles. Coco Robotics has also denied the accusations, asserting that no biometric data has been collected in Chicago and that the lawsuit is meritless. They noted that navigational data, including sidewalk hazard information, is shared to enhance safety, particularly for visually impaired users.
Illinois' Biometric Information Privacy Act, enacted in 2008, mandates that companies collect biometric identifiers only after providing written notice and securing written consent. The lawsuits seek statutory damages for alleged violations of this law.
