Walmart: Difference between revisions

Line 25:

In February 2020, Buzzfeed News published a detailed report on the usage of [[Clearview AI]], a company that created AI-powered facial recognition software by scraping images all across the internet including social media accounts.{{Citation needed}} In their report, it was found that Walmart had conducted nearly 300 searches on the facial recognition software,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mac |first=Ryan |date=27 Feb 2020 |title=Clearview’s Facial Recognition App Has Been Used By The Justice Department, ICE, Macy’s, Walmart, And The NBA |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ryanmac/clearview-ai-fbi-ice-global-law-enforcement |archive-url=https://archive.ph/6MMao |archive-date=27 Feb 2020 |website=Buzzfeed News}}</ref> indicating the use of AI software to personally identify Walmart shoppers.

===App ~~spyware~~ via Bluetooth===

===App [[Spyware]] via Bluetooth===

Walmart uses a technology called ''Bluetooth beacon,'' a device often found in physical retail locations used for precise indoor positioning.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 Jan 2024 |title=What You Must Know About Bluetooth Beacons Before Purchasing in 2025 |url=https://mapsted.com/blog/what-you-must-know-about-bluetooth-beacons-before-purchasing |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240910010343/https://mapsted.com/blog/what-you-must-know-about-bluetooth-beacons-before-purchasing |archive-date=10 Sep 2024 |website=Mapsted}}</ref> particularly for monitoring customers with the Walmart app installed on their smartphones.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Kwet |first=Michael |title=In Stores, Secret Surveillance Tracks Your Every Move |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/06/14/opinion/bluetooth-wireless-tracking-privacy.html |archive-url=https://archive.ph/YWbLk |archive-date=14 Jun 2019 |website=The New York Times}}</ref> The Bluetooth device is often hidden on the top of shelving units inside retail stored and then connects with the smartphone device of customers often through retailer apps. Although this may include connecting to other ~~spyware~~ apps on customers' smartphones not owned by the actual retailer.<ref name=":2" /> While many advertisers often use cellphone towers and GPS technology to track and advertise to consumers based on their location, Bluetooth beacons are significantly more precise, especially indoors where they are used in places like airports and shopping malls to track individuals.<ref name=":2" /> This allows companies like Walmart to send precise location data of customers to third-party advertisers, allowing highly specific targeted ads depending on which aisle the customer happens to be standing in.<ref name=":2" />

Walmart uses a technology called ''Bluetooth beacon,'' a device often found in physical retail locations used for precise indoor positioning.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 Jan 2024 |title=What You Must Know About Bluetooth Beacons Before Purchasing in 2025 |url=https://mapsted.com/blog/what-you-must-know-about-bluetooth-beacons-before-purchasing |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240910010343/https://mapsted.com/blog/what-you-must-know-about-bluetooth-beacons-before-purchasing |archive-date=10 Sep 2024 |website=Mapsted}}</ref> particularly for monitoring customers with the Walmart app installed on their smartphones.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Kwet |first=Michael |title=In Stores, Secret Surveillance Tracks Your Every Move |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/06/14/opinion/bluetooth-wireless-tracking-privacy.html |archive-url=https://archive.ph/YWbLk |archive-date=14 Jun 2019 |website=The New York Times}}</ref> The Bluetooth device is often hidden on the top of shelving units inside retail stored and then connects with the smartphone device of customers often through retailer apps. Although this may include connecting to other [[Spyware]] apps on customers' smartphones not owned by the actual retailer.<ref name=":2" /> While many advertisers often use cellphone towers and GPS technology to track and advertise to consumers based on their location, Bluetooth beacons are significantly more precise, especially indoors where they are used in places like airports and shopping malls to track individuals.<ref name=":2" /> This allows companies like Walmart to send precise location data of customers to third-party advertisers, allowing highly specific targeted ads depending on which aisle the customer happens to be standing in.<ref name=":2" />

===Data collection===

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 In February 2020, Buzzfeed News published a detailed report on the usage of [[Clearview AI]], a company that created AI-powered facial recognition software by scraping images all across the internet including social media accounts.{{Citation needed}} In their report, it was found that Walmart had conducted nearly 300 searches on the facial recognition software,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mac |first=Ryan |date=27 Feb 2020 |title=Clearview’s Facial Recognition App Has Been Used By The Justice Department, ICE, Macy’s, Walmart, And The NBA |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ryanmac/clearview-ai-fbi-ice-global-law-enforcement |archive-url=https://archive.ph/6MMao |archive-date=27 Feb 2020 |website=Buzzfeed News}}</ref> indicating the use of AI software to personally identify Walmart shoppers.
-===App spyware via Bluetooth===
+===App [[Spyware]] via Bluetooth===
-Walmart uses a technology called ''Bluetooth beacon,'' a device often found in physical retail locations used for precise indoor positioning.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 Jan 2024 |title=What You Must Know About Bluetooth Beacons Before Purchasing in 2025 |url=https://mapsted.com/blog/what-you-must-know-about-bluetooth-beacons-before-purchasing |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240910010343/https://mapsted.com/blog/what-you-must-know-about-bluetooth-beacons-before-purchasing |archive-date=10 Sep 2024 |website=Mapsted}}</ref> particularly for monitoring customers with the Walmart app installed on their smartphones.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Kwet |first=Michael |title=In Stores, Secret Surveillance Tracks Your Every Move |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/06/14/opinion/bluetooth-wireless-tracking-privacy.html |archive-url=https://archive.ph/YWbLk |archive-date=14 Jun 2019 |website=The New York Times}}</ref> The Bluetooth device is often hidden on the top of shelving units inside retail stored and then connects with the smartphone device of customers often through retailer apps. Although this may include connecting to other spyware apps on customers' smartphones not owned by the actual retailer.<ref name=":2" /> While many advertisers often use cellphone towers and GPS technology to track and advertise to consumers based on their location, Bluetooth beacons are significantly more precise, especially indoors where they are used in places like airports and shopping malls to track individuals.<ref name=":2" /> This allows companies like Walmart to send precise location data of customers to third-party advertisers, allowing highly specific targeted ads depending on which aisle the customer happens to be standing in.<ref name=":2" />
+Walmart uses a technology called ''Bluetooth beacon,'' a device often found in physical retail locations used for precise indoor positioning.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 Jan 2024 |title=What You Must Know About Bluetooth Beacons Before Purchasing in 2025 |url=https://mapsted.com/blog/what-you-must-know-about-bluetooth-beacons-before-purchasing |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240910010343/https://mapsted.com/blog/what-you-must-know-about-bluetooth-beacons-before-purchasing |archive-date=10 Sep 2024 |website=Mapsted}}</ref> particularly for monitoring customers with the Walmart app installed on their smartphones.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Kwet |first=Michael |title=In Stores, Secret Surveillance Tracks Your Every Move |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/06/14/opinion/bluetooth-wireless-tracking-privacy.html |archive-url=https://archive.ph/YWbLk |archive-date=14 Jun 2019 |website=The New York Times}}</ref> The Bluetooth device is often hidden on the top of shelving units inside retail stored and then connects with the smartphone device of customers often through retailer apps. Although this may include connecting to other [[Spyware]] apps on customers' smartphones not owned by the actual retailer.<ref name=":2" /> While many advertisers often use cellphone towers and GPS technology to track and advertise to consumers based on their location, Bluetooth beacons are significantly more precise, especially indoors where they are used in places like airports and shopping malls to track individuals.<ref name=":2" /> This allows companies like Walmart to send precise location data of customers to third-party advertisers, allowing highly specific targeted ads depending on which aisle the customer happens to be standing in.<ref name=":2" />
 ===Data collection===