Walmart: Difference between revisions

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===AI surveillance===

It was reported in 2019 that Walmart uses AI-surveillance, internally dubbed ''Missed Scan Detection'' to monitor self-checkout as well as manned registers ~~for the sake of detecting~~ items that have not been scanned.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Peterson |first=Hayley |title=Walmart reveals it's tracking checkout theft with AI-powered cameras in 1,000 stores |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-tracks-theft-with-computer-vision-1000-stores-2019-6 |website=Business Insider |date=20 Jun 2019 |access-date=20 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117013212/https://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-tracks-theft-with-computer-vision-1000-stores-2019-6 |archive-date=17 Nov 2019}}</ref> They do this using ''Everseen'', a facial recognition software based in Ireland, and it had only been reported on two years into Walmart's usage of the technology in which the company eventually confirmed it.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barkho |first=Gabriela |title=Walmart Confirms Use of AI-Powered Cameras to Detect Stealing |url=https://observer.com/2019/06/walmart-ai-cameras-detect-stealing/ |website=Observer |date=27 Jun 2019 |access-date=20 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251006191022/https://observer.com/2019/06/walmart-ai-cameras-detect-stealing/ |archive-date=6 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

It was reported in 2019 that Walmart uses AI-surveillance, internally dubbed ''Missed Scan Detection'' to monitor self-checkout as well as manned registers to detect items that have not been scanned.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Peterson |first=Hayley |title=Walmart reveals it's tracking checkout theft with AI-powered cameras in 1,000 stores |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-tracks-theft-with-computer-vision-1000-stores-2019-6 |website=Business Insider |date=20 Jun 2019 |access-date=20 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117013212/https://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-tracks-theft-with-computer-vision-1000-stores-2019-6 |archive-date=17 Nov 2019}}</ref> They do this using ''Everseen'', a facial recognition software based in Ireland, and it had only been reported on two years into Walmart's usage of the technology in which the company eventually confirmed it.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barkho |first=Gabriela |title=Walmart Confirms Use of AI-Powered Cameras to Detect Stealing |url=https://observer.com/2019/06/walmart-ai-cameras-detect-stealing/ |website=Observer |date=27 Jun 2019 |access-date=20 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251006191022/https://observer.com/2019/06/walmart-ai-cameras-detect-stealing/ |archive-date=6 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

===Use of Clearview AI===

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===Weighted groceries lawsuit and settlement (''2022—2024'')===

On 19 October 2022, Florida resident Vassilios Kukorinis filed a class action lawsuit against Walmart in Florida. Among the allegations, Walmart was accused of falsely inflating product weight, mislabeling weight of bagged produce, and overcharging for sold-by-weight clearance products.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beatty |first=Zachary P. |title=Vassilios Kukorinis, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, v. Walmart Inc. (8:22-cv-02402-VMC-TGW) |url=https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/65590632/1/kukorinis-v-walmart-inc/ |website=Court Listener |date=19 Oct 2022 |access-date=20 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251105080609/https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/65590632/1/kukorinis-v-walmart-inc/ |archive-date=5 Nov 2025}}</ref> While Walmart denied any wrongdoing, they agreed to pay $45 million to settle the case in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCarthy |first=Kelly |title=How Walmart shoppers can qualify for cash from $45 million settlement |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Food/walmart-shoppers-qualify-cash-45-million-settlement/story?id=108987190 |website=ABC News |date=8 Apr 2024 |access-date=20 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408185147/https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Food/walmart-shoppers-qualify-cash-45-million-settlement/story?id=108987190 |archive-date=8 Apr 2024}}</ref>

===California Gas Station Operator lawsuit (''2026'')===

On 22 June 2026, Walmart was named as a defendant in a proposed class action lawsuit in California, along with other gas station operators BP, Marathon, Albertsons, Circle K and [[7-Eleven]]. The gas stations all use an AI tool from Kalibrate which allows them to share confidential price information and algorithmically set gas prices. This inflated the prices consumers were charged. This is an alleged violation of the Cartwright Act, California's primary anti-trust law.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stempel |first=Jonathan |date=2026-06-22 |title=BP, Marathon, 7-Eleven, Walmart sued for allegedly using AI to boost California gas prices |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/bp-marathon-7-eleven-walmart-sued-allegedly-using-ai-boost-california-gas-prices-2026-06-22/ |url-status=live |website=Reuters}}</ref> Assembly Bill 325,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bill Text: CA AB325 {{!}} 2025-2026 {{!}} Regular Session {{!}} Introduced |url=https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB325/id/3084704 |url-status=live |website=Legiscan}}</ref> which went into effect 1 January 2026, amended the Cartwright Act to enhance enforcement against algorithmic price fixing. AB 325 prohibits the use or distribution of pricing algorithms in anti-competitive agreements and makes it easier to bring cases against companies for price fixing.

==References==

@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 ===AI surveillance===
-It was reported in 2019 that Walmart uses AI-surveillance, internally dubbed ''Missed Scan Detection'' to monitor self-checkout as well as manned registers for the sake of detecting items that have not been scanned.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Peterson |first=Hayley |title=Walmart reveals it's tracking checkout theft with AI-powered cameras in 1,000 stores |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-tracks-theft-with-computer-vision-1000-stores-2019-6 |website=Business Insider |date=20 Jun 2019 |access-date=20 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117013212/https://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-tracks-theft-with-computer-vision-1000-stores-2019-6 |archive-date=17 Nov 2019}}</ref> They do this using ''Everseen'', a facial recognition software based in Ireland, and it had only been reported on two years into Walmart's usage of the technology in which the company eventually confirmed it.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barkho |first=Gabriela |title=Walmart Confirms Use of AI-Powered Cameras to Detect Stealing |url=https://observer.com/2019/06/walmart-ai-cameras-detect-stealing/ |website=Observer |date=27 Jun 2019 |access-date=20 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251006191022/https://observer.com/2019/06/walmart-ai-cameras-detect-stealing/ |archive-date=6 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref name=":1" />
+It was reported in 2019 that Walmart uses AI-surveillance, internally dubbed ''Missed Scan Detection'' to monitor self-checkout as well as manned registers to detect items that have not been scanned.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Peterson |first=Hayley |title=Walmart reveals it's tracking checkout theft with AI-powered cameras in 1,000 stores |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-tracks-theft-with-computer-vision-1000-stores-2019-6 |website=Business Insider |date=20 Jun 2019 |access-date=20 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117013212/https://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-tracks-theft-with-computer-vision-1000-stores-2019-6 |archive-date=17 Nov 2019}}</ref> They do this using ''Everseen'', a facial recognition software based in Ireland, and it had only been reported on two years into Walmart's usage of the technology in which the company eventually confirmed it.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barkho |first=Gabriela |title=Walmart Confirms Use of AI-Powered Cameras to Detect Stealing |url=https://observer.com/2019/06/walmart-ai-cameras-detect-stealing/ |website=Observer |date=27 Jun 2019 |access-date=20 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251006191022/https://observer.com/2019/06/walmart-ai-cameras-detect-stealing/ |archive-date=6 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref name=":1" />
 ===Use of Clearview AI===
@@ Line 62: / Line 62: @@
 ===Weighted groceries lawsuit and settlement (''2022—2024'')===
 On 19 October 2022, Florida resident Vassilios Kukorinis filed a class action lawsuit against Walmart in Florida. Among the allegations, Walmart was accused of falsely inflating product weight, mislabeling weight of bagged produce, and overcharging for sold-by-weight clearance products.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beatty |first=Zachary P. |title=Vassilios Kukorinis, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, v. Walmart Inc. (8:22-cv-02402-VMC-TGW) |url=https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/65590632/1/kukorinis-v-walmart-inc/ |website=Court Listener |date=19 Oct 2022 |access-date=20 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251105080609/https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/65590632/1/kukorinis-v-walmart-inc/ |archive-date=5 Nov 2025}}</ref> While Walmart denied any wrongdoing, they agreed to pay $45 million to settle the case in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCarthy |first=Kelly |title=How Walmart shoppers can qualify for cash from $45 million settlement |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Food/walmart-shoppers-qualify-cash-45-million-settlement/story?id=108987190 |website=ABC News |date=8 Apr 2024 |access-date=20 Feb 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408185147/https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Food/walmart-shoppers-qualify-cash-45-million-settlement/story?id=108987190 |archive-date=8 Apr 2024}}</ref>
+===California Gas Station Operator lawsuit (''2026'')===
+On 22 June 2026,  Walmart was named as a defendant in a proposed class action lawsuit in California, along with other gas station operators BP, Marathon, Albertsons, Circle K and [[7-Eleven]]. The gas stations all use an AI tool from Kalibrate which allows them to share confidential price information and algorithmically set gas prices. This inflated the prices consumers were charged.  This is an alleged violation of the Cartwright Act, California's primary anti-trust law.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stempel |first=Jonathan |date=2026-06-22 |title=BP, Marathon, 7-Eleven, Walmart sued for allegedly using AI to boost California gas prices |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/bp-marathon-7-eleven-walmart-sued-allegedly-using-ai-boost-california-gas-prices-2026-06-22/ |url-status=live |website=Reuters}}</ref> Assembly Bill 325,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bill Text: CA AB325 {{!}} 2025-2026 {{!}} Regular Session {{!}} Introduced |url=https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB325/id/3084704 |url-status=live |website=Legiscan}}</ref> which went into effect 1 January 2026, amended the Cartwright Act to enhance enforcement against algorithmic price fixing. AB 325 prohibits the use or distribution of pricing algorithms in anti-competitive agreements and makes it easier to bring cases against companies for price fixing.
 ==References==