Working as an Amazon delivery driver is about to get a lot less private, that is, assuming drivers are willing to sign up to be monitored and tracked by the company using their biometric data.
Amazon is requesting around 75,000 of its delivery drivers in the US to sign a new consent form, allowing the company to collect biometric data which will then be used to monitor them as they work. The consent is required “as a condition of delivering Amazon packages,” because Amazon is installing AI camera systems in delivery vans to intelligently monitor and record footage.
The data that drivers must consent to be collected includes photographs used to verify their identity; vehicle location and movements (including “miles driven, speed, acceleration, braking, turns, following distance”); “potential traffic violations” (like speeding, failure to stop at stop signs, and undone seatbelts); and “potentially risky driver behavior, such as distracted driving or drowsy driving.”
It’s this last point that seems to be the most contentious. In February, Amazon announced it would start installing AI-powered cameras built by tech firm Netradyne in its delivery vans. These cameras record “100% of the time” and are supposed to identify dangerous behavior, like if a driver is yawning or checking their phone. The systems can then provide real-time feedback, telling a driver to take a break or keep their eyes on the road.
Drivers have a stark choice to make. They can sign the form and continue to drive knowing their biometric data, including face tracking photographs, will be collected and stored by the company. On the other hand, if the form isn’t signed they lose their job as an Amazon delivery driver. With that being the case, most drivers are likely to sign in order to keep on working.
The driver data collected is also linked to operation of the vehicle, including a vehicle’s “location and movements, such as miles driven, speed, acceleration, braking, turns, following distance.” Traffic violations and risky driving detection are also mentioned, which will likely relate to the above point about assessing eligibility to continue driving for Amazon.
If having biometric data collected by Amazon wasn’t enough of a concern for drivers, the privacy policy also states that it’s information which may be shared with third-party service providers. The document explains, “Third party providers may be permitted to access, use and retain your personal information only for the purpose of providing services to Amazon as described in this Privacy Policy and only in a manner consistent with this Privacy Policy.”
