Jump to content

Friend app: Difference between revisions

From Consumer Rights Wiki
Newer edit →
VisualWikitext
draft of a draft
 
fleshed out but still draft
Line 1: Line 1:
{{ProductCargo
Friend” is a wearable AI pendant device that claims to provide conversation & companionship.{{ProductCargo
|InProduction=No
|InProduction=No
|ArticleType=Service
|ArticleType=Service
|Description=Friend app has continuous biometric, audio, & video recording with liability shifted to users under the guise of offering a friend
|Description=“Friend” is a wearable AI pendant device that claims to provide conversational companionship, raising concerns about continuous recording and privacy liability.
}}
}}
{{Ph-C-Int}}


==Consumer-impact summary==
==Consumer-impact summary==
{{Ph-C-CIS}}
Users of the Friend device may be subject to continuous or passive recording of video, audio, & biometric data in private settings. The company’s policies shift liability for recordings involving bystanders onto users. The device’s data retention, model training, & deletion practices raise questions under evolving biometric privacy laws such as Illinois’ BIPA & various state-federal frameworks.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.friend.com/privacy.pdf |title=Friend – Privacy Policy v2 |website=Friend |date=2025-06-14 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.friend.com/privacy.pdf |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref>


==Incidents==
==Capabilities & Data Practices==
{{Ph-C-Inc}}
Friend’s official privacy policy (v2) states that it serves as a “data controller” under GDPR & collects personal data from use of the services.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.friend.com/privacy.pdf |title=Friend – Privacy Policy v2 |website=Friend |date=2025-06-14 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.friend.com/privacy.pdf |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref> 
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{PAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].


===Example incident one (''date'')===
Key practices include:
{{Main|link to the main CR Wiki article}}
*Collection of name, phone, email, account credentials, uploaded content, & ambient video/audio from device surroundings.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.friend.com/privacy.pdf |title=Friend – Privacy Policy v2 |website=Friend |date=2025-06-14 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.friend.com/privacy.pdf |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref>
Short summary of the incident (could be the same as the summary preceding the article).
*Collection of biometric data including facial & voice recognition.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.friend.com/privacy.pdf |title=Friend – Privacy Policy v2 |website=Friend |date=2025-06-14 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.friend.com/privacy.pdf |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref>
===Example incident two (''date'')===
*Retention of data for over five years if “legal, regulatory, or technical reasons” prevent deletion.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.friend.com/privacy.pdf |title=Friend – Privacy Policy v2 |website=Friend |date=2025-06-14 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.friend.com/privacy.pdf |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref>
...
*Use of personal data to train machine learning models powering Friend.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.friend.com/privacy.pdf |title=Friend – Privacy Policy v2 |website=Friend |date=2025-06-14 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.friend.com/privacy.pdf |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref>


Media reporting highlights possible discrepancies:
*NBC Bay Area reported the company claims it “will not store any audio recordings.”<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/tech/friend-com-launches-product-preview/3611528/ |title=Meet the AI startup that wants to give you a friend |website=NBC Bay Area |date=2025-02-01 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/tech/friend-com-launches-product-preview/3611528/ |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref>
*Wired reported the pendant is always-on & continuously listening for conversation.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wired.com/story/friend-ai-pendant/ |title=Wear This AI Friend Around Your Neck |website=Wired |date=2025-03-15 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.wired.com/story/friend-ai-pendant/ |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref>
==Legal & Regulatory Environment==
The Illinois  Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA)  requires entities to obtain written consent before collecting biometric identifiers, provide retention schedules, & limit data storage.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=095-0994 |title=Biometric Information Privacy Act |website=Illinois General Assembly |date=2008 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=095-0994 |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref> The Illinois Supreme Court’s 2019 *Rosenbach* decision expanded standing for consumers to sue.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.americanbar.org/groups/antitrust_law/resources/source/2025-june/biometric-privacy-litigation/ |title=The Who, Why, and Where of Biometric Privacy Litigation |website=American Bar Association |date=2025-06-01 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.americanbar.org/groups/antitrust_law/resources/source/2025-june/biometric-privacy-litigation/ |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref> 
Analysts warn that devices like Friend raise risks under BIPA & similar laws, especially when data is used for AI training.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lexisnexis.com/pdf/practical-guidance/ai/biometric-privacy-and-ai-legal-dev.pdf |title=Biometric Privacy and AI Legal Developments |website=LexisNexis |date=2025 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.lexisnexis.com/pdf/practical-guidance/ai/biometric-privacy-and-ai-legal-dev.pdf |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref> Federal & state regulators increasingly classify biometric identifiers as sensitive data requiring special protection.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://kpmg.com/us/en/articles/2025/ai-and-privacy-a-look-at-biometric-tech-and-data-reg-alert.html |title=AI and Privacy: A Look at Biometric Tech & Data |website=KPMG |date=2025 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://kpmg.com/us/en/articles/2025/ai-and-privacy-a-look-at-biometric-tech-and-data-reg-alert.html |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref>
===Precedents & Industry Comparisons===
The Clearview AI litigation demonstrates how courts treat unauthorized biometric collection. In 2025, Clearview agreed to a US$51.75 million settlement resolving claims under BIPA.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.regulatoryoversight.com/2025/04/51-75m-settlement-in-clearview-ai-biometric-privacy-litigation-illustrates-creative-resolution-for-startups-facing-parallel-litigation-and-enforcement-action/ |title=$51.75M Settlement in Clearview AI Biometric Privacy Litigation |website=Regulatory Oversight |date=2025-04-12 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.regulatoryoversight.com/2025/04/51-75m-settlement-in-clearview-ai-biometric-privacy-litigation-illustrates-creative-resolution-for-startups-facing-parallel-litigation-and-enforcement-action/ |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref> 
Competitor devices, such as the Limitless pendant, advertise a more limited data policy, not permitting ambient biometric capture.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.limitless.ai/privacy |title=Privacy – Limitless |website=Limitless.ai |date=2025 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.limitless.ai/privacy |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref>
==Company Responses & Disputes==
The company asserts that:
*Friend does not store audio recordings permanently.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/tech/friend-com-launches-product-preview/3611528/ |title=Meet the AI startup that wants to give you a friend |website=NBC Bay Area |date=2025-02-01 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/tech/friend-com-launches-product-preview/3611528/ |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref>
*Data deletion requests can be submitted, though model training may make deletion incomplete.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.friend.com/privacy.pdf |title=Friend – Privacy Policy v2 |website=Friend |date=2025-06-14 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.friend.com/privacy.pdf |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref>
Operational issues have been reported: the company delayed initial shipments announced for Q1 2025 until at least Q3 2025.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/20/friend-delays-shipments-of-its-ai-companion-pendant/ |title=Friend delays shipments of its AI companion pendant |website=TechCrunch |date=2025-01-20 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/20/friend-delays-shipments-of-its-ai-companion-pendant/ |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref>
==Consumer Concerns & Risks==
Consumer advocates & analysts have identified key risks:
*Constant ambient recording of private environments.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wired.com/story/friend-ai-pendant/ |title=Wear This AI Friend Around Your Neck |website=Wired |date=2025-03-15 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.wired.com/story/friend-ai-pendant/ |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref>
*Shifting liability to users for privacy violations of third parties.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.friend.com/privacy.pdf |title=Friend – Privacy Policy v2 |website=Friend |date=2025-06-14 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.friend.com/privacy.pdf |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref>
*Biometric sensitivity: face & voice identifiers are permanent.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://kpmg.com/us/en/articles/2025/ai-and-privacy-a-look-at-biometric-tech-and-data-reg-alert.html |title=AI and Privacy: A Look at Biometric Tech & Data |website=KPMG |date=2025 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://kpmg.com/us/en/articles/2025/ai-and-privacy-a-look-at-biometric-tech-and-data-reg-alert.html |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref>
*Risk that deletion requests are ineffective once data is used to train AI models.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.friend.com/privacy.pdf |title=Friend – Privacy Policy v2 |website=Friend |date=2025-06-14 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://www.friend.com/privacy.pdf |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref>
===Shipment Delay (January 2025)===
Friend announced initial shipments to preorder customers in Q1 2025 but later delayed deliveries until Q3 2025.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/20/friend-delays-shipments-of-its-ai-companion-pendant/ |title=Friend delays shipments of its AI companion pendant |website=TechCrunch |date=2025-01-20 |access-date=2025-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001000000/https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/20/friend-delays-shipments-of-its-ai-companion-pendant/ |archive-date=2025-10-01}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
{{Ph-C-SA}}
*[[Right to Repair]]
 
*[[Biometric Information Privacy Act]]
*[[Clearview AI]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Friend AI Pendant]]
[[Category:Consumer electronics]]
[[Category:Privacy controversies]]

Revision as of 20:37, 1 October 2025

Friend” is a wearable AI pendant device that claims to provide conversation & companionship.

Friend app
Basic Information
Release Year
Product Type
In Production No
Official Website

Consumer-impact summary

Users of the Friend device may be subject to continuous or passive recording of video, audio, & biometric data in private settings. The company’s policies shift liability for recordings involving bystanders onto users. The device’s data retention, model training, & deletion practices raise questions under evolving biometric privacy laws such as Illinois’ BIPA & various state-federal frameworks.[1]

Capabilities & Data Practices

Friend’s official privacy policy (v2) states that it serves as a “data controller” under GDPR & collects personal data from use of the services.[2]

Key practices include:

  • Collection of name, phone, email, account credentials, uploaded content, & ambient video/audio from device surroundings.[3]
  • Collection of biometric data including facial & voice recognition.[4]
  • Retention of data for over five years if “legal, regulatory, or technical reasons” prevent deletion.[5]
  • Use of personal data to train machine learning models powering Friend.[6]

Media reporting highlights possible discrepancies:

  • NBC Bay Area reported the company claims it “will not store any audio recordings.”[7]
  • Wired reported the pendant is always-on & continuously listening for conversation.[8]

The Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) requires entities to obtain written consent before collecting biometric identifiers, provide retention schedules, & limit data storage.[9] The Illinois Supreme Court’s 2019 *Rosenbach* decision expanded standing for consumers to sue.[10]

Analysts warn that devices like Friend raise risks under BIPA & similar laws, especially when data is used for AI training.[11] Federal & state regulators increasingly classify biometric identifiers as sensitive data requiring special protection.[12]

Precedents & Industry Comparisons

The Clearview AI litigation demonstrates how courts treat unauthorized biometric collection. In 2025, Clearview agreed to a US$51.75 million settlement resolving claims under BIPA.[13]

Competitor devices, such as the Limitless pendant, advertise a more limited data policy, not permitting ambient biometric capture.[14]

Company Responses & Disputes

The company asserts that:

  • Friend does not store audio recordings permanently.[15]
  • Data deletion requests can be submitted, though model training may make deletion incomplete.[16]

Operational issues have been reported: the company delayed initial shipments announced for Q1 2025 until at least Q3 2025.[17]

Consumer Concerns & Risks

Consumer advocates & analysts have identified key risks:

  • Constant ambient recording of private environments.[18]
  • Shifting liability to users for privacy violations of third parties.[19]
  • Biometric sensitivity: face & voice identifiers are permanent.[20]
  • Risk that deletion requests are ineffective once data is used to train AI models.[21]

Shipment Delay (January 2025)

Friend announced initial shipments to preorder customers in Q1 2025 but later delayed deliveries until Q3 2025.[22]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Friend – Privacy Policy v2" (PDF). Friend. 2025-06-14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-10-01. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  2. ↑ "Friend – Privacy Policy v2" (PDF). Friend. 2025-06-14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-10-01. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  3. ↑ "Friend – Privacy Policy v2" (PDF). Friend. 2025-06-14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-10-01. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  4. ↑ "Friend – Privacy Policy v2" (PDF). Friend. 2025-06-14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-10-01. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  5. ↑ "Friend – Privacy Policy v2" (PDF). Friend. 2025-06-14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-10-01. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  6. ↑ "Friend – Privacy Policy v2" (PDF). Friend. 2025-06-14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-10-01. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  7. ↑ "Meet the AI startup that wants to give you a friend". NBC Bay Area. 2025-02-01. Archived from the original on 2025-10-01. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  8. ↑ "Wear This AI Friend Around Your Neck". Wired. 2025-03-15. Archived from the original on 2025-10-01. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  9. ↑ "Biometric Information Privacy Act". Illinois General Assembly. 2008. Archived from the original on 2025-10-01. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  10. ↑ "The Who, Why, and Where of Biometric Privacy Litigation". American Bar Association. 2025-06-01. Archived from the original on 2025-10-01. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  11. ↑ "Biometric Privacy and AI Legal Developments" (PDF). LexisNexis. 2025. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-10-01. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  12. ↑ "AI and Privacy: A Look at Biometric Tech & Data". KPMG. 2025. Archived from the original on 2025-10-01. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  13. ↑ "$51.75M Settlement in Clearview AI Biometric Privacy Litigation". Regulatory Oversight. 2025-04-12. Archived from the original on 2025-10-01. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  14. ↑ "Privacy – Limitless". Limitless.ai. 2025. Archived from the original on 2025-10-01. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  15. ↑ "Meet the AI startup that wants to give you a friend". NBC Bay Area. 2025-02-01. Archived from the original on 2025-10-01. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  16. ↑ "Friend – Privacy Policy v2" (PDF). Friend. 2025-06-14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-10-01. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  17. ↑ "Friend delays shipments of its AI companion pendant". TechCrunch. 2025-01-20. Archived from the original on 2025-10-01. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  18. ↑ "Wear This AI Friend Around Your Neck". Wired. 2025-03-15. Archived from the original on 2025-10-01. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  19. ↑ "Friend – Privacy Policy v2" (PDF). Friend. 2025-06-14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-10-01. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  20. ↑ "AI and Privacy: A Look at Biometric Tech & Data". KPMG. 2025. Archived from the original on 2025-10-01. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  21. ↑ "Friend – Privacy Policy v2" (PDF). Friend. 2025-06-14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-10-01. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  22. ↑ "Friend delays shipments of its AI companion pendant". TechCrunch. 2025-01-20. Archived from the original on 2025-10-01. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
Retrieved from "https://consumerrights.wiki/index.php?title=Friend_app&oldid=26051"