Two Chicago residents sue Coco and Serve over biometric privacy

Two Chicago Customers File Class-Action Privacy Lawsuits Against Delivery Robot Operators

Two Chicago residents filed separate class-action lawsuits in Cook County court on October 9, accusing delivery robot operators Coco Robotics and Serve Robotics of scanning their faces and hands without consent, gulfcoastnewsnow.com reported. The complaints allege that machines deployed by both companies violated the Illinois Biometric Privacy Act by gathering physical measurements without written notice or permission.

How the Lawsuits Describe Robot Data Collection

The legal filings state that the autonomous machines use a combination of cameras and LiDAR sensors to map environments and measure the geometry of customers’ bodies. Mitchell Breidinger says a DoorDash grocery order in September 2025 was assigned to a Coco robot despite his not selecting robot delivery. When retrieving his items, he had to stand close enough for the machine’s cameras to record his face, head, and hands while LiDAR sensors measured them. Barry Schain experienced a similar assignment with an Uber Eats delivery handled by a Serve machine on October 4. Both lawsuits claim that the collected data was stored alongside names and addresses to train artificial intelligence systems.

Disputes Over Technology and Compliance

Spokespersons for both robotics companies strongly denied the allegations. A Coco representative called the litigation frivolous, stating that the technology does not collect biometric data in Chicago and that the shared information consists solely of navigational data used to aid sidewalk accessibility apps like BlindSquare. A Serve spokesperson stated that the company’s hardware is not designed to identify individuals or build biometric profiles, and that the firm will defend against the claims in court.

Residents Petition Chicago to Pause Robot Program

The legal action arrives amid mounting local pushback against sidewalk delivery devices in Chicago. A resident-led petition calling for a pause on the robot program has gathered more than 4,500 signatures, citing blocked walkways and pedestrian safety concerns. The municipal pilot program, overseen by the Chicago Department of Transportation and the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, is scheduled to expire in May 2027 unless the City Council grants an extension.

What Penalties and Data Sharing Issues Are at Issue?

What penalties are the plaintiffs seeking in the Cook County court?

The lawsuits seek statutory damages of $1,000 for each negligent violation or $5,000 for each intentional or reckless violation of the Illinois Biometric Privacy Act.

Which third parties allegedly received data from the robot companies?

Breidinger’s lawsuit claims that Coco shared data with OpenAI and other third parties, while Schain’s lawsuit points to Serve’s disclosures regarding the licensing of video and LiDAR datasets for training artificial intelligence.

When did the delivery robot pilot program officially start in Chicago?

The City of Chicago launched its delivery robot pilot program in 2022 under former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, with Coco and Serve joining the city’s sidewalks later in the timeline.