Chicago residents filed separate lawsuits in October 2026 against delivery robot companies Coco Robotics and Serve Robotics, alleging that their autonomous machines illegally collect sensitive biometric data. The legal actions claim that sidewalk delivery bots utilize embedded cameras and LIDAR sensors to record information about individuals without consent. Both tech firms strongly denied the allegations, emphasizing that their navigation systems are not designed to identify people or build profiles.
Are Delivery Robots Collecting Biometric Data?
Plaintiffs in Chicago claim that delivery robots capture facial, body, and hand details through onboard sensors during routine operations, including an Uber Eats pickup. Coco Robotics and Serve Robotics have strongly denied the allegations, stating their navigation systems are not designed to identify individuals, create biometric profiles, or collect unauthorized personal information.
How Are Companies Responding to the Claims?
Coco Robotics dismissed the legal action as frivolous, emphasizing that privacy remains a top priority and that their technology only gathers navigational data to improve sidewalk safety. Meanwhile, Serve Robotics announced plans to defend against the lawsuit, reiterating that the company does not use collected sensor data to identify people or build biometric databases.
