24/7 Surveillance: The Controversial Reality of Amazon’s Delivery Driver Smart Glasses

Amazon’s New Delivery Policy: Driver’s Smart Glasses to Snap Photos

Amazon is set to introduce a new feature to its delivery process: the use of smart glasses by delivery drivers to capture photos of their surroundings. These photos will include people and private property, with the potential for “several thousand captures in a single driver’s typical shift,” as reported by Bloomberg. Amazon plans to upload these images to its AI Wellspring platform, raising concerns about privacy and surveillance.

Viraj Chatterjee from Amazon stated that the purpose of using the data from the smart glasses is to enhance the delivery process and not for surveillance purposes. However, Amazon’s delivery drivers are no strangers to surveillance technology, with AI cameras already monitoring their actions in vehicles. Complaints have arisen about the cameras failing to detect secured seat belts and causing unnecessary stops during delivery routes.

Amazon has assured that any images captured by the smart glasses will have sensitive information like people and license plates blurred before being reviewed by humans. While Amazon mentioned that images could be obtained with a warrant, the storage duration of these photos remains undisclosed. Customers will not have access to view or request deletion of images captured by Amazon.

The quality of the photos taken by the smart glasses will be similar to quick snapshots taken by delivery drivers during drop-offs. Amazon plans to deploy an additional 20,000 pairs of smart glasses by the end of 2027, with existing pilot program drivers having completed over 275,000 deliveries while wearing them.