{"id":2681259,"date":"2026-10-11T09:58:11","date_gmt":"2026-10-11T13:58:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mcdonalds-sued-accused-of-using-ai-to-extract-as-much-money-out-of-customers-as-inhumanly-possible\/"},"modified":"2026-10-11T10:03:04","modified_gmt":"2026-10-11T14:03:04","slug":"mcdonalds-sued-accused-of-using-ai-to-extract-as-much-money-out-of-customers-as-inhumanly-possible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mcdonalds-sued-accused-of-using-ai-to-extract-as-much-money-out-of-customers-as-inhumanly-possible\/","title":{"rendered":"McDonald&#8217;s Sued, Accused of Using AI to Extract as Much Money Out of Customers as (In)Humanly Possible"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">34<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmcdonalds-sued-accused-of-using-ai-to-extract-as-much-money-out-of-customers-as-inhumanly-possible%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2681259&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>McDonald&#8217;s faced a federal lawsuit in Chicago alleging that the company&#8217;s use of an AI-powered pricing system has led to price-fixing and increased costs for customers. The plaintiff, Michael Thomas, claims that although franchisees are supposed to set their own prices independently, McDonald&#8217;s uses a machine-learning &#8220;pricing engine&#8221; that collects extensive sales data to recommend menu prices. This system allegedly influences franchisees&#8217; pricing decisions, leading to uniform price hikes across locations and higher consumer costs, wiht prices rising by about 40% from 2019 to 2024. The lawsuit asserts that McDonald&#8217;s pressures franchisees to use these tools and that non-compliance can harm their franchise prospects, benefitting the company financially. McDonald&#8217;s denies the allegations, stating AI does not set prices and emphasizing the independence of franchisees. The case aims for damages, an injunction, and fees, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/youth-counselor-declared-brain-dead-after-juvenile-inmate-assault\/\" title=\"Youth Counselor Declared Brain-Dead After Juvenile Inmate Assault\">amidst broader scrutiny<\/a> of AI&#8217;s role in pricing strategies across industries.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>McDonald\u2019s was sued in federal court in Chicago over claims that an artificial intelligence pricing system lets the company and its franchisees set menu prices together, and that customers pay more because of it.<\/p>\n<p>Michael Thomas, of DeKalb, Illinois, filed the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/apple-sued-over-airtags-allegedly-being-used-by-stalkers\/\" title=\"Apple Sued Over AirTags Allegedly Being Used By Stalkers\">proposed class action lawsuit<\/a> on Oct. 2 against McDonald\u2019s Corp. and McDonald\u2019s USA. He wants to represent customers who bought food at the chain.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/fingfx.thomsonreuters.com\/gfx\/legaldocs\/akpelezwzvr\/Thomas%20v%20McDonald%27s.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">complaint<\/a> says he regularly bought the same items at different restaurants and paid different prices.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">McDonald\u2019s hit with lawsuit alleging AI-powered menu price-fixing https:\/\/t.co\/bTA38Sf7VU https:\/\/t.co\/fO1Zk4Zh0v<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 New York Post (@nypost) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/nypost\/status\/2107244742903845274?\">October 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>  The suit said about 95 percent of the roughly 14,000 U.S. McDonald\u2019s restaurants are owned by independent franchisees, who are supposed to set their own prices and compete with one another.<\/p>\n<p>It added that since at least 2019, the company has run a machine-learning \u201cpricing engine\u201d that takes in sales data from millions of daily transactions, including franchisees\u2019 confidential figures, and recommends a price for each restaurant.<\/p>\n<p>That engine, the complaint said, does more than cover costs.<\/p>\n<p>It estimates what a restaurant\u2019s customers will pay, uses other McDonald\u2019s locations\u2019 non-public data to gauge price sensitivity, and ties one store\u2019s increases to whether other stores have already raised the same item.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIndependent businesses must set their prices independently,\u201d the filing said.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">McDonald\u2019s has been accused of using artificial intelligence to help push up the price of your Big Mac in a bombshell new lawsuit https:\/\/t.co\/X6EeT10CtW \ud83d\udd17 https:\/\/t.co\/KMM6C6LOfO<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Daily Mail (@DailyMail) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DailyMail\/status\/2107501256214249699?\">October 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>  The complaint added that McDonald\u2019s pressured franchisees to use the tool and, starting in January 2026, required them to use the company\u2019s approved pricing consultant and tools.<\/p>\n<p>It said the company tracks stores that stray from the recommendations and has told investors that \u201cpricing non-compliance\u201d can affect whether a franchisee is considered for renewal or more stores.<\/p>\n<p>Franchisees who fall out of favor risk the investment in their restaurants, the suit alleged.<\/p>\n<p>McDonald\u2019s gains either way, according to the filing, because the company takes the sales at company-owned stores and a royalty on franchise revenue.<\/p>\n<p>A May 29, 2024, company fact sheet was cited for a claim that average menu prices rose about 40 percent from 2019 to 2024. The 2022 and 2023 annual reports are cited as crediting \u201cstrategic menu price increases\u201d for the revenue hikes.<\/p>\n<p>The claims for relief are under Section 1 of the Sherman Act, the Illinois Antitrust Act, and the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.<\/p>\n<p>Thomas is seeking treble damages, an injunction, and attorneys\u2019 fees.<\/p>\n<p>One section of the complaint is headed \u201cAn $18 Burger.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/legal\/government\/mcdonalds-hit-with-class-action-over-menu-prices-2026-10-05\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Reuters<\/a>, which reported on the filing Monday, said the suit cites a Sept. 29 Reuters story on the McDonald\u2019s pricing engine, and on other chains using AI for prices and operations.<\/p>\n<p>Similar class action lawsuits have been filed in recent years over hotel rooms and apartment rents, Reuters reported.<\/p>\n<p>McDonald\u2019s called the claims speculative and uninformed. \u201cAI does not set the price of a Big Mac or any other menu item,\u201d the company said.<\/p>\n<p>It insisted that franchisees set their own prices and that recommendation tools are common across numerous industries.<\/p>\n<p>Lark Turner, a lawyer for Thomas, meanwhile said that McDonald\u2019s was \u201cleveraging its troves of data and its franchised system to nickel-and-dime consumers down to the last French fry.\u201d<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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