Delivery Robots Accused of Scanning Customers' Faces and Collecting Biometric Data Without Consent

Delivery Robots Under Legal Fire for Alleged Biometric Data Collection

Two Chicago residents have filed separate class-action lawsuits against delivery robot companies Coco Robotics and Serve Robotics, accusing them of collecting biometric data without consent. The lawsuits, both filed on October 9 in Cook County court, allege that the companies violated the Illinois Biometric Privacy Act (BIPA) by scanning customers' faces and hands during food deliveries.1

1

4

4

Mitchell Breidinger, a Near North Side resident, claims he ordered groceries through DoorDash in September 2025 and was assigned a Coco robot delivery without choosing that option. When retrieving his order, the robot's cameras allegedly recorded his face, head, and hands, while LiDAR sensors measured their geometry and distance from the machine. The lawsuit also alleges a remote operator watched video of the delivery in real-time.1

1

Barry Schain, a Lincoln Park resident, describes similar experiences with Serve Robotics while receiving Uber Eats deliveries, most recently on October 4.4

4

Privacy Concerns and BIPA Violations at the Core

The Illinois Biometric Privacy Act requires companies collecting biometric data from state residents to provide written notice of collection practices, obtain written consent, and maintain clear policies for data retention and destruction.1

1

Both plaintiffs claim they received no such notification or consent requests. The lawsuits seek statutory damages of $1,000 per negligent violation or $5,000 per intentional or reckless violation of BIPA, plus additional relief.1

1

3

3

What makes these cases particularly significant is the allegation that customers' biometric measurements are stored alongside personally identifiable information like names and addresses in the companies' data systems.4

4

This linking of facial recognition data to identifiable individuals raises substantial privacy concerns about how delivery robots operate in public spaces.

AI Training Data and Third-Party Sharing Allegations

Both lawsuits allege that the companies retain video and sensor data to train artificial intelligence systems. Schain's lawsuit specifically points to Serve Robotics' disclosures about licensing video and LiDAR datasets to third parties for AI training purposes.4

4

2

2

Breidinger's complaint goes further, claiming Coco Robotics has shared robot-collected data with OpenAI and other third parties.4

4

The plaintiffs argue their data was sold to third parties without their knowledge, with company disclosures indicating that video and sensor data can be licensed for AI training.2

2

This allegation transforms what companies describe as navigational data into a potential commodity for training AI systems, raising questions about the true purpose of data collection by these sidewalk surveillance machines.

Companies Deny Wrongdoing, Cite Navigational Purposes

Both Coco Robotics and Serve Robotics have firmly denied the allegations. A Coco spokesperson stated that "this lawsuit fundamentally misunderstands our technology, we have not collected biometric data in Chicago," calling the case "frivolous."3

3

4

4

The company emphasized that the data they share is navigational data used to make sidewalks safer, citing their partnership with BlindSquare, a navigation app for people who are blind or have low vision.4

4

Serve Robotics similarly stated that while their robots use cameras and sensors to navigate sidewalks safely, the company "does not use data to identify individuals or create biometric profiles."2

2

4

4

A Serve spokesperson said the company "will defend against" the lawsuit.4

4

Chicago Becomes Ground Zero for Delivery Robot Debate

The lawsuits emerge from Chicago, which has become a focal point for debates over delivery robots. The city launched its delivery robot pilot program in 2022 under former Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Coco Robotics began operating in late 2024, followed by Serve Robotics in September 2025.4

4

The program, overseen by the Chicago Department of Transportation and the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, is set to expire in May 2027 unless the City Council approves an extension.4

4

Residents have raised mounting concerns about safety, accessibility, and surveillance technology. Lincoln Park resident Josh Robertson started a petition last year calling on the city to pause the program until officials release safety and accessibility data and establish clearer rules. More than 4,500 people had signed the petition as of last month.4

4

Many residents complain about having to share sidewalks with bots they believe cause congestion and create safety hazards for pedestrians.1

1

Broader Implications for Surveillance and Privacy

These class-action lawsuits arrive amid growing scrutiny of what's perceived as surveillance technology. Online communities have described these robots as "mobile data thieves" and examples of "sidewalk surveillance," reflecting broader anxieties about privacy in public spaces.3

3

The backlash extends beyond delivery robots to include complaints about Flock cameras, delivery drones, and other technologies that collect data in public environments.3

3

The crux of these cases will be whether the data collection involved was done without permission and contravenes the Illinois Biometric Privacy Act. While delivery robots obviously need to scan their environment and navigate around sidewalks and pedestrians, the question remains whether this constitutes collecting biometric data without consent.3

3

Both Coco Robotics and Serve Robotics provide robotic delivery services for popular food delivery platforms including DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub, making the outcome of these lawsuits potentially significant for the broader delivery robot industry.2

2