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Monday, September 14, 2026

An Illinois consumer claims in a class action that home improvement giant Lowe's is secretly collecting callers' voiceprints and sharing their biometric data without consent.

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Lowe's Home Centers LLC failed in its bid to dismiss a proposed class action alleging it collected and disclosed consumers' personal information in violation of the pen register provisions California Invasion of Privacy Act.

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-- Bloomberg Law (@bloomberglaw.com) 2:00 AM · Aug 28, 2026

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More from the article ...

... "Unbeknownst to plaintiff and other Illinois callers, Lowe's records callers' voices and, upon information and belief, subjects at least some calls to speaker-recognition or voice analysis processing that creates, collects, receives, or otherwise obtains voice prints derived from callers' distinctive vocal characteristics," Perkins says in the complaint. ...

While ordinary audio recording is a standard practice among customer service intended to improve overall quality, biometric technology analyzes characteristics of a speaker's voice and translates it into a "mathematical representation" used to distinguish a specific speaker from others.

"Unlike a password, account number, or security code, an individual cannot simply replace the biological and behavioral characteristics reflected in a voiceprint if the information is compromised," Perkins says in the complaint. ...


#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-09-13 06:48 PM | Reply

Does Lowe's then sell those voiceprints?

If so, what personal data might be attached to those voiceprints, and who might the buyers be?

#2 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-09-13 06:49 PM | Reply

LAMP

I was left asking what dollar value would a permanent voiceprint be to anyone?

Take Donald Trump for example. We already know the dollar value of his voiceprint (character) is $0.00.

Free to AI for the taking, so to speak.

#3 | Posted by Twinpac at 2026-09-15 05:10 AM | Reply

Does Lowe's then sell those voiceprints?
If so, what personal data might be attached to those voiceprints, and who might the buyers be?
#2 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-09-13 06:49 PM | Reply | Flag:

Lowe's was one of the first retailers to place a minimum of 3 Flock cameras in their parking lot - in addition to their own surveillance cameras. The ONLY reason those Flock cameras are there is to track and sell your data.

#4 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2026-09-15 10:25 AM | Reply

Unfettered capitalism at its finest.

Profit before people. Greed is good.

It is the Way. The capitalist Way.

#5 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-09-15 11:01 AM | Reply

#5 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-09-15 11:01 AM | Reply | Flag:

I'm sure if the Democrats take power back, it'll all go away...Right???

#6 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2026-09-15 12:52 PM | Reply

I'm sure if the Democrats take power back, it'll all go away...Right???

#6 | POSTED BY LFTHNDTHRDS

Dunno. Is that what you want? Or are you happy with the way things are?

It's not up to me. I'm not even in the rat race anymore.

It's up to the people.

#7 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-09-15 01:16 PM | Reply

It's up to the people.

#7 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-09-15 01:16 PM | Reply | Flag:

No, it's not and you already know that.

It's up to the politicians in DC and the lobbyists who shower them with gratuity to make ---- like this happen.

#8 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2026-09-15 01:40 PM | Reply

"It's up to the politicians in DC and the lobbyists ... "

It's up to the people to vote the bums out.

After witnessing the Great American FAFO I too have very little hope of that actually happening.

#9 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-09-15 02:38 PM | Reply

#9 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-09-15 02:38 PM | Reply | Flag:

You might want to stop while you still have a shirt on your back. The surveillance issue has been around for a LONG time and it has bipartisan support. The only Representative making noise over it in DC is a Republican. Josh Hawley.

#10 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2026-09-15 09:07 PM | Reply

The surveillance issue has been around for a LONG time and it has bipartisan support.

Not sure wtf surveillance you are talking about but there is a growing and rare bipartisan pushback against mass surveillance in the United States, particularly regarding automated license plate readers and government data collection.

And I don't know of anyone (besides greedy corporations) who support private companies sucking up our personal data either.

#11 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-09-15 09:32 PM | Reply


Not sure wtf surveillance you are talking about but there is a growing and rare bipartisan pushback against mass surveillance in the United States, particularly regarding automated license plate readers and government data collection.

Americans will fold. They even monitor planes landing at small GA airports now, to assess fees.

The great American decade is in the past, wish I could have experienced it. 2000-2010... must have been glory days...

#12 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-09-15 09:49 PM | Reply

It's up to the people to vote the bums out.

As I have documented and you have ignored, voting in CA at least is a loser proposition.

#13 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-09-15 09:51 PM | Reply

And I don't know of anyone (besides greedy corporations) who support private companies sucking up our personal data either.

Dude, you support it, you are literally on the internet.

#14 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-09-15 09:52 PM | Reply

- Americans will fold.

Says the clown who plans on turning over his DNA to his authoritarian Gov, the Security Forces, so he can retire there.

Apparently America isn't Fascist enough for him yet.

#15 | Posted by Corky at 2026-09-15 10:08 PM | Reply

Dude, you support it, you are literally on the internet.

#14 | POSTED BY ONEIRONAUT

Thanks Goatman. What a taardvark.

No. Like. Said. I don't support it. No one with any good sense does. And I'd stop it if I could. So would others. Like Elizabeth Warren. Maybe she will. When we win the midterms in November.

Grow up commie soyboy. I also don't support our dependence on fossil fuels. But I still have to drive a car and use petroleum products.

#16 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-09-15 10:36 PM | Reply

-Americans will fold.

Try us and find out commie spyboy wannabe.

#17 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-09-15 10:37 PM | Reply

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