Disney Hit With California Biometric Lawsuit Over Facial Recognition Opt-Out

A class action lawsuit filed in California federal court alleges The Walt Disney Company does not adequately inform guests about its use of facial recognition technology at the entrances to Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure. The lawsuit, which seeks at least $5 million in damages, was filed on behalf of park visitors, including children, who have been subject to the system since its implementation in April 2026.

The complaint states that Disney collects and compares photographs of guests' faces to images associated with their tickets or annual passes. It alleges the company fails to provide sufficient disclosure or obtain adequate consent for this collection of biometric data. Attorney Blake Yagman, representing the proposed class, argued in the complaint that guests should be required to expressly opt in to such technology with written consent, and that the responsibility for protecting privacy should not fall on individuals who may be unaware the scanning is occurring.

Disneyland's privacy policy directly addresses the facial recognition system. It states that biometric data collected is deleted within 30 days of creation and that participation is optional. The...