The Walt Disney Company is currently embroiled in a class-action lawsuit concerning the implementation of facial recognition technology at the entrances of its Disneyland theme park. The legal action alleges that Disney has infringed upon visitors’ privacy rights and breached consumer protection laws.
The lawsuit asserts that Disney fails to adequately disclose its use of biometric data collection, leaving consumers, including children, unaware of the sensitive data being gathered. Filed by New York attorney Blake Hunter Yagman on behalf of lead plaintiff Summer Christine Duffield, a California parent who recently visited Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park with her children, the lawsuit highlights concerns over the lack of transparency in Disney’s practices.
Despite attempts by CBC News to contact Disneyland for comment, no response has been received. A spokesperson for Disneyland Resort was quoted in The Hill refuting the claims, stating that they uphold the protection of guests’ personal information and consider the allegations to be unsubstantiated.
Disneyland introduced facial recognition technology at the entrances of Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park in April, citing the benefits of streamlining reentry into the parks and enhancing fraud prevention measures. According to Disney, images captured at the facial recognition entry points are compared with those taken when tickets or passes are initially used, with the images converted into unique numerical values. The company assures that data is deleted within 30 days of creation, except in cases where retention is necessary for legal or fraud-prevention purposes.
While Disney emphasizes that participation in facial recognition is optional, visitors can still have their images taken at entrance lanes without the technology, where staff manually verify tickets. The lawsuit points out that the signage regarding the new technology and the alternative entrance lanes is insufficient, alleging that it is easy to overlook and unclear, as reported in a Los Angeles Times article.
Highlighting the potential risks associated with biometric data being linked to personal information like credit cards or government-issued IDs, the lawsuit emphasizes the importance of obtaining explicit written consent for the use of facial recognition technology. The legal action seeks a minimum of $5 million US in damages.
Overall, the legal dispute underscores the ongoing debate surrounding the balance between technological advancements and individual privacy rights in public spaces.
