Student sues Apple for $1 billion over false arrest linked to facial recognition tech
An 18-year-old student launched a $1 billion lawsuit against Apple and an associated security firm on Monday, accusing the pair of falsely linking him to a series of store thefts.
At fault is the company's in-store facial recognition software, according to a complaint filed on behalf of Ousmane Bah, seen by Bloomberg. Bah was arrested at his New York home in November.
The arrest warrant used a photo that doesn't resemble Bah, the suit claims, adding that on the day of a crime in Boston, Bah was actually attending his senior prom in Manhattan. It's suggested that a thief may have obtained Bah's lost learner's permit -- one without a photo -- and used that as a form of ID at Apple stores. In a bid to track down the suspect, Apple may have mistakenly connected the permit with another person's face.
The security firm named in the case is Security Industry Specialists. Both it and Apple have declined comment.
Apple stores can be a lucrative target for robbers and thieves, given high-demand electronics displayed out in the open. In some instances this has been exacerbated by Apple's choice of all-glass storefronts -- more brazen robbers will ram cars, trucks, or SUVs through the glass, grab what they can, then run to a nearby getaway vehicle.
Based on its track record, Apple will most likely try to settle out of court unless it can clearly demonstrate it wasn't at fault and/or that the accusation is frivolous.
At fault is the company's in-store facial recognition software, according to a complaint filed on behalf of Ousmane Bah, seen by Bloomberg. Bah was arrested at his New York home in November.
The arrest warrant used a photo that doesn't resemble Bah, the suit claims, adding that on the day of a crime in Boston, Bah was actually attending his senior prom in Manhattan. It's suggested that a thief may have obtained Bah's lost learner's permit -- one without a photo -- and used that as a form of ID at Apple stores. In a bid to track down the suspect, Apple may have mistakenly connected the permit with another person's face.
The security firm named in the case is Security Industry Specialists. Both it and Apple have declined comment.
Apple stores can be a lucrative target for robbers and thieves, given high-demand electronics displayed out in the open. In some instances this has been exacerbated by Apple's choice of all-glass storefronts -- more brazen robbers will ram cars, trucks, or SUVs through the glass, grab what they can, then run to a nearby getaway vehicle.
Based on its track record, Apple will most likely try to settle out of court unless it can clearly demonstrate it wasn't at fault and/or that the accusation is frivolous.
Comments
If they had any they would be able to arrest the same kids who run into stores and steal phones and watches and run out. Only to find out that they get bricked if you try to erase them.
It’s a glass box with devices laying on tables.
Robbing the store is easy, getting anything from what you steal is a different matter. All of the devices get bricked, plus if you are stupid enough, as soon as you try to erase it and connect to the internet it will ping your location.
Only way the fence the goods is to sell them to some poor unsuspecting fool who doesn’t check to see if activation lock is turned off. If you see an Apple device being sold way too cheap, be very wary of getting ripped off or robbed yourself.
Are we talking “Minority Report”?
I bet that he gets nothing. I'll be lucky to get an iPhone case or something like that.
Apple and the security firm didn’t issue the warrant. The police does.
It’s not really on the people who provide tips to the police to verify their information. Police and the judge who sign the warrant has the diligent to verify the information.
Technically, the information they got should be only enough to question him as a person of interest, unless there’re witnesses (like any Apple Store staff). Then again, it still not Apple’s responsibility
if you don’t have responsibilities, I don’t think you have to paid for damages.
It’s the police who collect evidence and present to a judge. Apple would have handed over to the police what they asked for; the in-store surveillance video and any other records of the public’s attendance at their store. It’s then on the police to utilize that video and other records as evidence in an investigation. So it’s a failed police investigation that led the police, not Apple, to seek a warrant and then go exercise that warrant. But of course, it’s not so easy to sue the police or a judge, plus there’s deeper pockets to go after.
This lawsuit is likely predicated on the calculation that embarrassment to Apple is worth more than an attempt to fight city hall. As such, it’s baseless, but the best shot the kid and his lawyer has.