Brief
Chicago delivery robot firms sued over alleged biometric data collection
Customers allege the robots' cameras and LiDAR recorded biometric information, prompting lawsuits filed in Cook County court on Oct. 9.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Two separate class‑action lawsuits were filed in Cook County Circuit Court on Oct. 9, 2026, accusing Chicago‑based delivery‑robot companies Coco Robotics and Serve Robotics of collecting biometric data from customers without proper notice or consent, according to the Independent.
What happened
The suits claim that the robots’ onboard cameras and LiDAR sensors captured images of customers' faces, heads and hands as they approached the machines to retrieve orders. Plaintiffs allege the data were stored alongside personal identifiers such as names and addresses, and that the companies shared the information with third parties, including OpenAI.
What the reports add
The Independent details two plaintiffs: Mitchell Breidinger, a Near North Side resident, says a DoorDash order in September 2025 was delivered by a Coco robot despite not selecting robot delivery. He contends the robot recorded his facial features and hand geometry, and that a remote operator watched the delivery live. Barry Schain, a Lincoln Park resident, reports three deliveries from Serve robots, the most recent on Oct. 4, when an Uber Eats order was assigned to a robot without his selection. Schain’s filing highlights Serve’s licensing of video and LiDAR datasets to third parties for AI training.
What was said
Spokespersons for both companies denied the allegations. A Serve representative said the company “will defend against” the lawsuit, while a Coco spokesperson similarly rejected claims that the firm collects biometric information from customers or passersby.
How it came about
The lawsuits invoke the Illinois Biometric Privacy Act, which requires written notice, written consent, and a data‑retention policy for any biometric data collection. Both plaintiffs argue the robot operators failed to provide such notice, did not obtain written consent, and retained the data for AI training purposes. The filings also note that the companies’ robots use LiDAR—a laser‑based ranging technology—to map surroundings, a feature that, according to the suits, can capture detailed hand geometry.
Key facts
- Two class‑action lawsuits were filed in Cook County on Oct. 9, 2026. (independent.co.uk)
- Plaintiffs allege Coco Robotics and Serve Robotics captured facial and hand data via cameras and LiDAR. (independent.co.uk)
- The suits cite violations of the Illinois Biometric Privacy Act. (independent.co.uk)
- Coco Robotics allegedly shared data with OpenAI; Serve Robotics licensed data to third parties. (independent.co.uk)
- Both companies denied collecting biometric data and said they will defend the lawsuits. (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Battle over Chicago delivery robots reaches the courts after outcry over 'face scans'”
