Description: A proposed class action alleges that Walmart's AI voice system captured biometric voiceprints from Illinois residents who called local stores without first obtaining meaningful consent or explaining how the biometric data would be retained and deleted. Plaintiff Amber Smith said the system captured her voiceprint during two calls in December 2025 and one in July 2026.
Editor Notes: A copy of the complaint can be accessed at the following URL: https://www.classaction.org/media/walmart-bipa-complaint.pdf. Timeline notes: (1) The incident ID date of 12/01/2025 is an approximation; the complaint states that Smith allegedly had her voiceprint collected during two Walmart calls in December 2025; (2) 07/2026: a third alleged collection occurred; and (3) 07/06/2026: Smith filed a proposed BIPA class action. (4) The incident ID was created 08/06/2026.
Entities
View all entitiesAlleged: Biometric identity verification technology developers developed an AI system deployed by Walmart, which harmed Walmart customers , Privacy , General public of Illinois , General public , Biometric data subjects and Amber Smith.
Alleged implicated AI systems: Walmart AI Voice System , Biometric voice modeling , Biometric identity verification systems and Biometric data processing systems
Incident Stats
Incident ID
1622
Report Count
1
Incident Date
2025-12-01
Editors
Daniel Atherton
Incident Reports
Reports Timeline
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Walmart faces a proposed class action lawsuit that claims the mega-retailer unlawfully collects, stores, and uses without consent the voiceprints of Illinois consumers who place a phone call to their local store.
The 15-page lawsuit alleges…
Variants
A "variant" is an AI incident similar to a known case—it has the same causes, harms, and AI system. Instead of listing it separately, we group it under the first reported incident. Unlike other incidents, variants do not need to have been reported outside the AIID. Learn more from the research paper.
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