McDonald’s is currently facing a federal lawsuit that alleges its AI-enhanced pricing tool violates antitrust laws by sharing nonpublic data with franchisees who are competing in the same market, the Associated Press reports. This legal action, filed Friday in Illinois, claims the burger giant is using artificial intelligence to collect and distribute store-level sales data that otherwise would not be shared between competitors.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Michael Thomas, a resident of DeKalb, Illinois, who reportedly noticed price differences between the various McDonald’s locations he visits. Thomas, who frequently orders a Quarter Pounder with cheese, french fries and a Coke, is at the center of this claim that the system is responsible for driving up menu prices across the United States.
