Amazonis facing a division - action suit that was filed on Thursday , claiming the company did not informAmazon Gocustomers that they were being recorded at its New York City position . According to the lawsuit , Amazon was in violation of theBiometric Identifier Information Lawpassed in 2021 which requires all New York City establishments to post a sign informing customers or visitor that their biostatistics are being recorded .
Plaintiff Rodriguez Perez claims in the suit , seen by Gizmodo , that he sent a letter to Amazon on February 7 , 2023 , to inform the companionship that it did not have a conspicuous sign at its Amazon Go store at 80 Pine Street . He claims he inform the storage that it was in violation of the city ’s police force by collecting customers ’ biometric identifier information without posting a foretoken advise customers . Perez claims the company did not respond to his letter , nor was a sign immediately posted outside the door , the lawsuit sound out .
Amazon denies the call and a spokesperson said in an emailed statement to Gizmodo , “ We do not use facial realisation technology in any of our storage , and claim made otherwise are imitation . ” The representative clear up , “ Only shoppers who pick out to recruit in Amazon One and select to be identified by brood their palm over the Amazon One twist have their palm - biometric datum firmly collected , and these individuals are supply the appropriate privacy revelation during the enrollment process . The client is always in control of when they choose to be identify using their palm . ”
Photo: Stephen Brashear (Getty Images)
Amazon opened its accumulate - and - go store in New York City in 2019 , which marketed itself as a blank space where client could shop and simply leave the stock without stepping up to a cash register or dealing with a cashier . The company aver it uses computer vision , rich erudition algorithms , and sensor optical fusion to track consumers ’ “ virtual cart ” to notate when they put an item in their pushcart or take it off the tab if they absent it .
client can enter the store by run down aQR codeon their Amazon app , by scanning their credit entry card which is connect to their write up , or byhovering and scanning their palm over the scanner , which is also tie to their Amazon invoice . The lawsuit exact that the memory continue to obtain the customers ’ biometric information by tracking them based on the conformation and sizing of the person ’s body , and continues to canvas their movements until they leave the store .
Perez claims that although Amazon did put up a mark on March 13 , it was misleading and incorrect because it “ fails to disclose that Amazon converts and retains biometric identifier selective information . Even worse , the augury informs customers that Amazon will not collect biometric identifier information on them unless they utilize the Amazon One palm scanner to enter the Amazon Go store , even though Amazon Go computer storage do roll up biometric identifier information . ”
According to the law , lawbreaker have 30 days after the complaint is egress to comply or can face goodly penalisation and judicial proceeding . If the caller is found to be in violation , it would face upwards of $ 500 for each irreverence , up to $ 500 for each negligent sale violation , and up to $ 5,000 for each intentional or rash sales event violation .
The suit states that Perez is demanding a trial by jury and is seeking damages for himself and “ other Amazon customers whose rights were violated by Amazon . ”
Correction 2025-02-20 5:14 p.m. ET : A previous version of this story said Amazon was being accused of violating New York City ’s facial acknowledgement police , when it should have sound out the metropolis ’s biometric surveillance law .
AmazonCriticism of AmazonLaw , CrimeOnline music storesSkillsSurveillance
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