Rite Aid has agreed to a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission after being charged with using facial recognition technology for surveillance purposes without implementing sufficient procedures to protect consumers. The settlement includes a five-year ban on using facial recognition technology for surveillance and requires Rite Aid to implement comprehensive safeguards to prevent harm to consumers. The company must also discontinue using the technology if it cannot control potential risks. The FTC complaint alleges that Rite Aid’s use of facial recognition technology resulted in false accusations of wrongdoing, embarrassment, and harassment for consumers, particularly people of color. Rite Aid is also required to implement a robust information security program and obtain independent third-party assessments. The settlement is pending approval from the bankruptcy court and the federal district court.
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/12/rite-aid-banned-using-ai-facial-recognition-after-ftc-says-retailer-deployed-technology-without