TARGET is in hot water after a lawsuit claimed the company wrongfully used facial recognition technology to identify shoplifters.
Target shoppers across Illinois may be entitled to up to $5,000 if allegations by the lead plaintiff in the case are proven true.
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A class action suit, filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, alleges Targets in Illinois are equipped with “cameras and advanced video surveillance systems that surreptitiously collect, possess, or otherwise obtain Biometric Data,” reported CWB Chicago.
The suit alleges Target doesn’t notify customers before they enter the store and doesn’t ask for permission to collect customers’ Biometric Data.
This is in direct violation of Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act, the suit claims.
According to the court papers, biometric information refers to any information “regardless of how it’s captured, converted, stored, or shared based on a person’s biometric identifier used to identify the individual.”
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The law prevents companies from collecting or keeping anyone’s biometric information without informing them first or getting written permission.
Target has operated 14 “investigation centers” and two “forensic labs,” according to the suit.
The store also allegedly keeps a camera system that can detect people who linger in front of merchandise, among other potential offenses.
As the lead plaintiff in the suit, Arnetta Dean is fighting to award other customers affected by what she believes was the wrongful capture of her personal information, reported CWB Chicago.
Dean’s lawyers allege she “entered Target’s stores on numerous occasions,” and believes each location contains facial recognition video surveillance systems.
Dean says she was never notified of this technology and never granted Target permission to collect her biometric data.
If a judge rules in her favor, she and potentially thousands of affected Target shoppers could be awarded “$5,000 for each and every intentional and/or reckless violation” of the state’s law, according to the suit.
Recipients could also receive “statutory damages of $1,000 for each and every negligent violation,” the suit also says.
Those affected could receive $1,000 to $5,000 for every violation within five years, per Illinois law, according to CWB Chicago.
SHOPPERS SURVEILLED
Amazon joins Target in the struggle over similar accusations, with claims against its “virtual try-on tool” that shoppers allege collects biometric information.
The try-on tool is used to show customers how they would look when using specific cosmetics.
Meanwhile, Walmart has been using Everseen AI cameras since 2017.
The cameras are designed to monitor if items have not been scanned at a self-checkout location and then alert Walmart employees.
The retailer also uses a receipt-checking system that’s become increasingly unpopular with customers.
Shoppers continue to slam Walmart and other retailers for locking up a variety of items across the store.
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) has also become increasingly popular for tracking stolen items, reported Axios.
This puts a micro-sized tag on items to detect theft.
License plate recognition is also commonly used in store parking lots to catch thieves, according to prior reporting from The U.S. Sun.
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