California’s Most Iconic Attraction is Now Facing a Major Privacy Lawsuit

Disneyland Park in Anaheim has been sued for using facial recognition technology at its entrances.

A visitor has filed a $5 million class-action lawsuit against the popular theme park for violating the privacy of visitors and not properly disclosing the use of facial recognition, according to a report by The Orange County Register.

The class-action suit was filed on May 15, 2026, in the U.S. District Court in New York. According to the lawsuit, Summer Christine Duffield visited Disneyland and Disney California Adventure on May 10 with her minor children.

Duffield claimed that Disney “does not adequately disclose the use of their biometric collection.” As a result, the visitors, primarily children, don’t know that Disney is collecting “this highly sensitive data,” according to the complaint.

Duffield said that guests should be allowed to opt in to the facial recognition system with written consent, adding that the “onus of privacy rights should not be on the victim.”

The lawsuit seeks to represent all park guests who were allegedly subjected to facial recognition, according to The Hollywood Reporter report.

Stating that Disney protects guests’ personal information, Disneyland Resort Spokesperson Jessica Jakary said Duffield’s claims were “without merit,” according to The Orange County Register.

The lawsuit was filed after Disney recently introduced facial recognition systems at some of its park entrances as part of its efforts to prevent fraud and misuse of annual passes.

Some of the entrance lanes at Disneyland and the Disney California Adventure Park are equipped with facial recognition technology, according to Disney’s privacy policy.

The technology involves scanning visitors’ faces and converting the images into unique numerical data to verify ticket holders. The data is saved when visitors first use the ticket or pass.

Disney said it deletes all numerical data within 30 days of creation, except in cases where the information is expected to be saved for legal or fraud-prevention purposes.

Pointing out that some entrance lanes at the parks do not use facial recognition systems, Disney said visitors’ participation in the lanes that use facial recognition is optional.

While visitors’ images may still be taken on the entrance lanes, Disney said these lanes do not save guests’ biometric identifiers.

According to Disney, the company uses “technical, administrative, and physical security measures” that are intended to protect guest information from unauthorized access, disclosure, use, and modification.

Adding that no security measures are “perfect or impenetrable,” Disney said that it regularly reviews its security procedures to consider new technologies and methods.

The lawsuit comes at a time when there are ongoing concerns about using facial recognition technology in public spaces, such as airports, stadiums, and event venues.