15.08.2024 14:04:00
Дата публикации
Facebook's parent company will pay the Texas government that amount in connection with a lawsuit alleging the illegal use of facial recognition technology to collect biometric data without consent. It is the largest settlement in US history reached with a single state.
The lawsuit against Meta was filed in 2022 and is the first major case based on the 2009 Texas Biometric Privacy Act. The law provides for fines of up to $25,000 for each violation. Texas authorities allege that Facebook repeatedly collected biometric information from photos and videos uploaded by users.
The data was collected as part of a free "Tag Suggestions" feature that was disabled. Meta said it was pleased with the settlement and plans to expand its investments in Texas, including possibly building data centers. However, the company continues to deny any wrongdoing.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said the settlement demonstrates the state’s commitment to protecting its citizens’ rights and holding big tech companies accountable for violating privacy laws.
The parties reached the agreement in May of this year, weeks before the trial was set to begin in state court.
Earlier in 2020, Meta agreed to pay $650 million in a class action lawsuit in Illinois over similar allegations related to biometric privacy. The company also denied any wrongdoing in that case.
At the same time, Google’s parent company Alphabet is also facing a lawsuit from Texas authorities alleging that it violated the state’s biometric law. The lawsuits highlight growing public and government concerns about data privacy and personal information rights in the digital age.
Some lawyers see the case as a landmark in privacy protections, as it will impact future regulation of biometric data collection and use.
This could set an example for other states and companies, demonstrating that legal measures can effectively protect citizens' privacy rights.
(text translation is done automatically)
The lawsuit against Meta was filed in 2022 and is the first major case based on the 2009 Texas Biometric Privacy Act. The law provides for fines of up to $25,000 for each violation. Texas authorities allege that Facebook repeatedly collected biometric information from photos and videos uploaded by users.
The data was collected as part of a free "Tag Suggestions" feature that was disabled. Meta said it was pleased with the settlement and plans to expand its investments in Texas, including possibly building data centers. However, the company continues to deny any wrongdoing.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said the settlement demonstrates the state’s commitment to protecting its citizens’ rights and holding big tech companies accountable for violating privacy laws.
The parties reached the agreement in May of this year, weeks before the trial was set to begin in state court.
Earlier in 2020, Meta agreed to pay $650 million in a class action lawsuit in Illinois over similar allegations related to biometric privacy. The company also denied any wrongdoing in that case.
At the same time, Google’s parent company Alphabet is also facing a lawsuit from Texas authorities alleging that it violated the state’s biometric law. The lawsuits highlight growing public and government concerns about data privacy and personal information rights in the digital age.
Some lawyers see the case as a landmark in privacy protections, as it will impact future regulation of biometric data collection and use.
This could set an example for other states and companies, demonstrating that legal measures can effectively protect citizens' privacy rights.
(text translation is done automatically)
