Illinois residents coining it on biometric privacy settlements – The Akron Legal News

Login | September 29, 2023 Illinois residents coining it on biometric privacy settlements RICHARD WEINERTechnology for Lawyers Published: September 29, 2023 A long, long time ago––dozens of tech generations ago (2008)––the state of Illinois passed one of the most restrictive privacy acts in the country. It is the Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA), and it has snared millions for plaintiffs in class action lawsuits from the largest data collection companies.*”Data collection companies” is my new name for what the tech press calls “Big Tech.”Biometrics, in this context, concerns “the measurement and analysis of unique physical… characteristics… especially as a means of verifying personal identity. (Miriam-Webster)” Biometrics on phones are personal data like retinal scans, facial recognition, fingerprints, etc.The latest big class action suit transferring cash into the state’s residents from these companies was a $68.5 million fine that Meta just agreed to pay to the state over personal data scraped from Instagrammers in a program that was discontinued in 2021. Insta had used its facial recognition tech to collect and store data without user informed consent, contra to BIPA Meta denied they were doing this, but $40 million to them is like a quarter to us, so why not settle?
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