Meta Settles Biometrics Case in Texas for $1.4B, a Major Agreement.

Published Date: 30/07/2024

Meta will pay a record $1.4 billion to settle a biometrics-related lawsuit in Texas, putting an end to its practice of capturing and using personal biometric data without authorization.

"In a landmark settlement, Meta has agreed to pay a record $1.4 billion to resolve a biometrics-related lawsuit in Texas. The settlement, announced by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, is the largest ever obtained by a single state and the largest privacy settlement achieved by an attorney general.

The lawsuit, filed in 2022, accused Meta of capturing millions of Texans' biometric data without their consent. According to the lawsuit, Meta had automatically turned on a feature called Tag Suggestions in 2011, which used facial recognition software to identify people in uploaded photographs. Despite knowing that Texas state law forbids the use of facial recognition software without consent, Meta continued to capture and use biometric data for over a decade.

The settlement puts an end to Meta's practice of capturing and using personal biometric data without authorization, a move that is seen as a major victory for privacy advocates. The use of facial recognition software has raised concerns about privacy and discrimination, with some arguing that it is less accurate for certain races, nationalities, and ethnicities.

However, proponents of facial recognition argue that the technology has improved significantly, with today's facial recognition tools tested and validated by trustworthy third parties. Some states even require police agencies to use software that is at least 98 percent accurate across all demographics.

The settlement comes at a time of heightened privacy concerns surrounding facial recognition. In May, Microsoft updated its code of conduct to prevent its artificial intelligence service from being used for facial recognition purposes by or for U.S. law enforcement.

In a statement, Meta said it was pleased to resolve the matter and looked forward to exploring future opportunities to deepen its business investments in Texas, including potentially developing data centers.

  Information 

Meta, formerly Facebook, Inc., is an American online social media and social networking service company based in Menlo Park, California.

Aware is a biometric solutions provider that offers a range of biometric products and services, including facial recognition software."

FAQs:

"Q: What is the amount of the settlement reached by Meta with Texas?

A: $1.4 billion

Q: What was the basis of the lawsuit filed against Meta in 2022?

A: Capturing millions of Texans' biometric data without their consent

Q: What is the feature that Meta used to capture biometric data?

A: Tag Suggestions

Q: What is the concern surrounding facial recognition technology?

A: Privacy and discrimination

Q: What is the required accuracy level for facial recognition software in some states?

A: At least 98 percent accurate across all demographics"

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