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Tag: biometric data

  • Texas AG Sues Google for ‘Unauthorized’ Biometric Data Collection

    Texas AG Sues Google for ‘Unauthorized’ Biometric Data Collection

    Texas Attorney General Paxton has filed a lawsuit against Google over the company’s biometric data collection.

    Texas is already involved in legal action against Google, but the latest lawsuit alleges the company has collected and used the biometric data of users without obtaining consent.

    “Google’s indiscriminate collection of the personal information of Texans, including very sensitive information like biometric identifiers, will not be tolerated,” Attorney General Ken Paxton said. “I will continue to fight Big Tech to ensure the privacy and security of all Texans.”

    AG Paxton alleges that Google is in violation of the state’s Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act. The suit alleges that Google illegally collects face geometry, voiceprints, and more for Google Assistant, Google Photos, and Nest Hub Max.

    Lawsuits over companies’ use of biometrics have been gaining traction. In 2020, Facebook agreed to a $550 million settlement in an Illinois case over the company’s use of biometric data. In that case, Facebook was accused of violating the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act.

    With the Illinois case as precedent, Google may well find itself on the back foot in Texas.

  • Texas AG Sues Meta Over ‘Unauthorized Biometric Data’ Collection

    Texas AG Sues Meta Over ‘Unauthorized Biometric Data’ Collection

    Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued Meta over allegations Facebook collected customers’ biometric data without their consent.

    Biometric data can refer to fingerprints, eye scans, voiceprints, face, or hand geometry. It’s increasingly being used as a way to improve security over a PIN code or standard password. Unfortunately, biometric data can also represent a major security risk of its own, especially if companies’ databases containing the data are compromised or stolen.

    According to AG Paxton, Facebook improperly collected and stored biometric data without first obtaining customer consent. Such action would be in violation of the Texas’ Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act and the Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

    “Facebook will no longer take advantage of people and their children with the intent to turn a profit at the expense of one’s safety and well-being,” Attorney General Paxton said. “This is yet another example of Big Tech’s deceitful business practices and it must stop. I will continue to fight for Texans’ privacy and security.”

    The full lawsuit can be found here.

  • Illinois Facebook Users Will Receive $350 From Settlement

    Illinois Facebook Users Will Receive $350 From Settlement

    Illinois Facebook users will be receiving roughly $350 from the landmark privacy case against the social media giant.

    In January 2020, Facebook tentatively agreed to a $550 million settlement in an Illinois class-action lawsuit over the state’s biometric privacy law, with the final amount reaching $650 million. The Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act prohibits private companies from collecting or using biometric data — such as facial recognition, voiceprint or fingerprint data — without written notification and written consent.

    In the first true test of the law, the Illinois class-action suit against Facebook took the company to task for violating that law. Facebook uses biometric data in a number of ways, including using facial recognition for photo tagging recommendations.

    According to the Chicago Tribune, some 1.6 million Illinois Facebook users will be receiving payments to the tune of $350 each. The payments were originally estimated to be closer to $400, but an additional 200,000 claims lowered the amount.

    Either way, the settlement should serve as a warning to companies to do a better job of respecting their users’ privacy.