Published 18:48 IST, April 23rd 2019
18-year-old teenager sues Apple for $1 billion, claims facial recognition software led to false arrest
An 18-year-old New Yorker filed a $1 billion lawsuit against American giant Apple on Monday, alleging that its facial recognition software falsely named him in thefts at multiple Apple stores.
- Tech
- 2 min read
An 18-year-old New Yorker filed a $1 billion lawsuit against American giant Apple on Monday, alleging that its facial recognition software falsely named him in thefts at multiple Apple stores.
According to the lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court., the teen identified as Ousmane Bah, who is a college student from New York, was arrested by NYPD (New York Police Department) officers on November 29 after Apple's facial recognition linked him to thefts at its stores in New Jersey, Boston, Manhattan and Delaware and Manhattan.
It was later noted that the actual culprit used a stolen ID under the complainant's name, address and personal details. However, the photo was missing from the thief's fraudulent identifications.
As per the complaint, since the photo was missing from the ID, Apple programmed its stores' face recognition system to find the real thief, which in turn showed Bah's face. He also acclaimed that the actual thief was caught stealing $1,200 worth of merchandise - in particular Apple Pencils - from the Boston store last May.
After investigation of the surveillance footage from the store, an NYPD detective concluded that the 18-year-old teen had been wrongfully arrested, as per reports. He later alleged that Apple's security technology which "identifies suspects of theft using facial recognition technology", must have been behind the reason to Bah's arrest.
Media reports claim that the lawsuit against Apple states that the teen's life has been "deeply and negatively affected" following his arrest.
"He advanced through his freshman year of college experiencing constant anxiety and fear that at any moment he would be arrested again for a crime he did not commit," the complaint reads.
The lawsuit further states that on the day of one of the thefts in Boston, the New York teenager was attending his senior prom in Manhattan.
Meanwhile, Apple has not yet responded to the questions of media in the matter.
(With inputs from media reports)
Updated 19:33 IST, April 23rd 2019