Full Breakdown
Chicago Delivery Robots Face Biometric-Privacy Lawsuits
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
In early October, two Chicago residents filed separate class-action suits in Cook County court against food-delivery robot operators Coco Robotics and Serve Robotics. The plaintiffs allege that the robots’ cameras and LiDAR sensors captured facial and hand geometry as customers approached the machines to retrieve orders, then stored that biometric information together with names and addresses. The complaints assert that the companies shared video and sensor data with third parties, including OpenAI, and that they failed to provide written notice, obtain written consent, or maintain a retention-destruction policy required by the Illinois Biometric Privacy Act. The lawsuits seek statutory damages of $1,000 for each negligent violation and $5,000 for each intentional or reckless violation, plus additional relief.
Background & Context
Chicago’s delivery-robot pilot began in 2022 under the city’s Department of Transportation and the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection. Coco Robotics entered the streets in late 2024, followed by Serve Robotics in the fall of 2025. Since then, the robots have become a regular sight on sidewalks, prompting city-wide concerns about safety, accessibility, surveillance, and potential job displacement. The city created a 311 reporting category for robot-related complaints. Notable incidents include a Serve robot smashing a CTA bus shelter in West Town and a Coco robot colliding with another shelter in Old Town, both in March, as well as a September video showing more than a dozen Coco robots circling and becoming stuck on a Lincoln Park sidewalk.
Official Statements & Responses
A Coco spokesperson characterized the suit as “frivolous” and maintained that the company does not collect biometric data in Chicago. The spokesperson added that any data shared is purely navigational, used to provide real-time sidewalk-hazard information to BlindSquare, an app for people who are blind or have low vision, and that privacy compliance is a top priority. A Serve spokesperson similarly emphasized that the robots’ cameras and sensors are employed solely for safe navigation and that the systems are not designed to identify individuals or create biometric profiles. Both companies denied that they retain or share biometric information.
Criticism & Opposition
Community opposition has grown alongside the lawsuits. A petition launched by Lincoln Park resident Josh Robertson has gathered more than 4,500 signatures, calling for a pause to the program until safety and accessibility data are released, a public hearing is held, and clearer regulations are established. Alderman Daniel La Spata rejected plans to expand robot deployment across his ward after an online survey showed that over 83 % of respondents strongly opposed the expansion. Residents have also reported robots obstructing sidewalks and crosswalks, raising particular concerns for people with disabilities.
Data & Statistics
- Statutory damages sought: $1,000 per negligent violation; $5,000 per intentional or reckless violation.
- Petition signatures: >4,500.
- Survey opposition to expansion: 83 % of respondents.
- Program timeline: launched 2022, set to expire in 2027 unless the City Council approves an extension.
- Reported incidents: two bus-shelter collisions (one Serve, one Coco) in March; viral September video of >12 Coco robots stuck on a sidewalk.
These developments place Chicago’s delivery-robot pilot under heightened legal and public scrutiny as the city weighs privacy protections against the promised efficiency of autonomous last-mile delivery.