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Added some surveillance info and references and will expound later. Removed subscription pop-up since its original research and not inherently anti-consumer
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{{InfoboxCompany
{{InfoboxCompany
|Name=Walmart Inc.|Type=Public|Founded=1962|Industry=Retail|Official Website=https://www.walmart.com/|Logo=Walmart logo (2025; Alt).svg}}
|Name=Walmart Inc.|Type=Public|Founded=1962|Industry=Retail|Official Website=https://www.walmart.com/|Logo=Walmart logo (2025; Alt).svg}}
[[wikipedia:Walmart|'''Walmart Inc.''']] is an American company known for its chain of retail stores and ubiquitous presence across many states and even countries.  
[[wikipedia:Walmart|'''Walmart Inc.''']] is an American company known for its chain of retail stores and ubiquitous presence across many states and even countries.


==Incidents==  
== Consumer impact summary ==
{{Ph-C-CIS}}
 
==Incidents==
 
=== Facial recognition surveillance ===
Walmart's first use of facial recognition software dates back to 2015<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roberts |first=Jeff John |date=9 Nov 2015 |title=Walmart’s Use of Sci-fi Tech To Spot Shoplifters Raises Privacy Questions |url=https://fortune.com/2015/11/09/wal-mart-facial-recognition/ |website=Fortune}}</ref>.
 
=== AI surveillance ===
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>{{Cite web |last=Peterson |first=Hayley |date=20 Jun 2019 |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?r=US&IR=T |website=Business Insider}}</ref>.
 
=== Use of Clearview AI ===
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 |website=Buzzfeed News}}</ref>, indicating the use of AI software to personally identify Walmart shoppers.


===Weighted groceries settlement===
===Weighted groceries settlement===
In 2022 a class action lawsuit was filed against Walmart in Florida mainly alledging that Walmart falsely inflated product weight, mislabeled weight of bagged produce and overcharged for sold-by-weight clearance products.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Amended class action complaint V. Kukorinis (and similarly situated) v. Wallmart Inc. |url=https://angeion-public.s3.amazonaws.com/www.walmartweightedgroceriessettlement.com/docs/Amended+Class+Action+Complaint.pdf |access-date=15 Mar 2025}} </ref> While Walmart denies any wrongdoing they agreed to pay $45 million to settle the case in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCarthy |first=Kelly |date=8 Apr 2024 |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 |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=ABC News}}</ref>
In 2022 a class action lawsuit was filed against Walmart in Florida mainly alledging that Walmart falsely inflated product weight, mislabeled weight of bagged produce and overcharged for sold-by-weight clearance products.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Amended class action complaint V. Kukorinis (and similarly situated) v. Wallmart Inc. |url=https://angeion-public.s3.amazonaws.com/www.walmartweightedgroceriessettlement.com/docs/Amended+Class+Action+Complaint.pdf |access-date=15 Mar 2025}} </ref> While Walmart denies any wrongdoing they agreed to pay $45 million to settle the case in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCarthy |first=Kelly |date=8 Apr 2024 |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 |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=ABC News}}</ref>
===One-click sign up to paid service===
[[File:Popup.png|thumb]]
When using the Walmart app on an iPhone or iPad, a large popup covering about 90% of the screen appears. It has a very large one-click signup button for Walmart+ with only a small 'x' in the corner to close the popup and return to the main app.
===Refusal to refund older bricked Onn devices (''2025'')===
===Refusal to refund older bricked Onn devices (''2025'')===
{{Main|Walmart's refusal to replace bricked Onn devices after forced update}}
{{Main|Walmart's refusal to replace bricked Onn devices after forced update}}
In June 2025, Walmart began updating their Onn streaming devices from Android 10 and 12 to 14. After the first attempt at the updates bricked older devices from 2021, Walmart's Onn customer support refused to grant refunds or replacements for devices over the one year manufacturer's warranty.
In June 2025, Walmart began updating their Onn streaming devices from Android 10 and 12 to 14. After the first attempt at the updates bricked older devices from 2021, Walmart's Onn customer support refused to grant refunds or replacements for devices over the one year manufacturer's warranty{{Citation needed}}.
 
==See also==
*[[Click-to-cancel]]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2lFIc1nDcA YouTube video about click to cancel]


==References==
==References==
<references />
<references />
[[Category:Walmart]]
[[Category:Walmart]]

Revision as of 02:13, 24 September 2025

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Walmart
Basic information
Founded 1962
Legal structure Public
Industry Retail
Official website https://www.walmart.com/

Walmart Inc. is an American company known for its chain of retail stores and ubiquitous presence across many states and even countries.

Consumer impact summary

Overview of concerns that arise from the conduct towards users of the product (if applicable):

  • User Freedom
  • User Privacy
  • Business Model
  • Market Control

Add your text below this box. Once this section is complete, delete this box by clicking on it and pressing backspace.


Incidents

Facial recognition surveillance

Walmart's first use of facial recognition software dates back to 2015[1].

AI surveillance

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[2].

Use of Clearview AI

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[3], indicating the use of AI software to personally identify Walmart shoppers.

Weighted groceries settlement

In 2022 a class action lawsuit was filed against Walmart in Florida mainly alledging that Walmart falsely inflated product weight, mislabeled weight of bagged produce and overcharged for sold-by-weight clearance products.[4] While Walmart denies any wrongdoing they agreed to pay $45 million to settle the case in 2024.[5]

Refusal to refund older bricked Onn devices (2025)

Main article: Walmart's refusal to replace bricked Onn devices after forced update

In June 2025, Walmart began updating their Onn streaming devices from Android 10 and 12 to 14. After the first attempt at the updates bricked older devices from 2021, Walmart's Onn customer support refused to grant refunds or replacements for devices over the one year manufacturer's warranty[citation needed].

References

  1. Roberts, Jeff John (9 Nov 2015). "Walmart's Use of Sci-fi Tech To Spot Shoplifters Raises Privacy Questions". Fortune.
  2. Peterson, Hayley (20 Jun 2019). "Walmart reveals it's tracking checkout theft with AI-powered cameras in 1,000 stores". Business Insider.
  3. Mac, Ryan (27 Feb 2020). "Clearview's Facial Recognition App Has Been Used By The Justice Department, ICE, Macy's, Walmart, And The NBA". Buzzfeed News.
  4. "Amended class action complaint V. Kukorinis (and similarly situated) v. Wallmart Inc" (PDF). Retrieved 15 Mar 2025.
  5. McCarthy, Kelly (8 Apr 2024). "How Walmart shoppers can qualify for cash from $45 million settlement". ABC News. Retrieved 15 Mar 2025.