Disneyland hit with $5 million lawsuit over use of facial recognition technology

A visitor to Disneyland has filed a $5 million class action lawsuit against Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, claiming the parks violate privacy laws by using facial recognition technology without proper disclosure. Summer Christine Duffield of Riverside County filed the lawsuit on May 15 in U.S. District Court in New York, stating that Disney does not adequately inform guests—including children—about the collection of biometric data. The lawsuit alleges Disneyland and Disney California Adventure deployed facial recognition software at park entrances in April, converting visitor photos into unique numerical values for identification. Duffield visited the parks on May 10 with her minor children and argues that guests should have the option to opt out with written consent. Disneyland maintains that it respects guest privacy and denies the claims, stating they are without merit. The parks offer opt-out lanes marked with signs showing a silhouetted person with a diagonal strikethrough. Notices about the option were posted inside security screening areas during the rollout. The technology compares visitor photos to those saved when tickets or annual passes were first used, deleting biometric data within 30 days unless legally required. The lawsuit follows growing concerns about mass surveillance in public spaces, where facial recognition is increasingly used in airports, stadiums, and retailers. Disneyland’s use of facial recognition has sparked debate amid broader discussions on privacy rights and data collection in public venues.