Meta Settles Texas Facial Recognition Suit for $1.4B, a Historic Agreement

Published Date: 30/07/2024

Meta settles with Texas for $1.4 billion over allegations of using biometric data without consent, marking the largest settlement secured by a single state.

"In a major victory for privacy advocates, Meta has agreed to a $1.4 billion settlement with the state of Texas over allegations that the tech giant used biometric data of users without their permission. The settlement, announced by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, is the largest secured by a single state and marks a significant milestone in the ongoing battle to protect user privacy.

The lawsuit, filed in 2022, accused Meta of violating a Texas state law that prohibits capturing or selling a resident's biometric information, such as their face or fingerprint, without their consent. The company was found to have collected biometric data without obtaining explicit permission from its users.

Meta has faced similar allegations in the past, including a $650 million settlement with Illinois users in 2021. This latest settlement brings the total amount paid by Meta for biometric privacy claims to over $2 billion.

The company had previously announced plans to shut down its facial recognition system and delete the faceprints of more than 1 billion people amid growing concerns about the technology and its misuse. Facebook had introduced facial recognition over a decade ago, but gradually made it easier to opt out of the feature as it faced scrutiny from courts and regulators.

Texas has also filed a similar lawsuit against Google, accusing the search giant of collecting millions of biometric identifiers, including voiceprints and records of face geometry, through its products and services. That lawsuit is still pending.

The $1.4 billion settlement is unlikely to have a significant impact on Meta's business, given its profit of $12.37 billion in the first quarter of this year. However, it serves as a warning to other companies that they must prioritize user privacy and consent when collecting biometric data.

  information  Meta, formerly known as Facebook, is a social media and technology company based in Menlo Park, California. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is a Republican who has been a vocal advocate for user privacy and has taken legal action against several tech companies over alleged violations of state law.

   The Associated Press is a non-profit news cooperative that provides news coverage to a wide range of media outlets. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues."

FAQs:

"Q: What is the amount of the settlement between Meta and Texas?

A: The settlement amount is $1.4 billion.

Q: What was Meta accused of in the lawsuit?

A: Meta was accused of collecting biometric data without obtaining explicit permission from its users.

Q: How much has Meta paid in total for biometric privacy claims?

A: Meta has paid over $2 billion in settlements for biometric privacy claims.

Q: What is the status of the lawsuit against Google filed by Texas?

A: The lawsuit against Google is still pending.

Q: What is the impact of the settlement on Meta's business?

A: The $1.4 billion settlement is unlikely to have a significant impact on Meta's business."

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