In a recent development within the Big Tech arena, Instagram’s parent company Meta Platforms, Inc. (“Meta”) has agreed to a $68.5 million class-action biometric privacy settlement. The settlement is in relation to their alleged violation of the Biometric Information Privacy Act, 740 ILCS 14/1, et seq. (BIPA).
The lawsuit was filed in June following initial mediations and settlement negotiations. The plaintiffs alleged Instagram’s facial recognition technology violated BIPA. According to them, the company unlawfully collected and stored biometric data without abiding by the necessary compliance requirements stipulated under the law.
This unprecedented settlement once again puts the focus on the data privacy practices of Big Tech companies. It underlines the ever-increasing significance of robust data protection mechanisms vis-a-vis advanced technologies such as facial recognition.
The Biometric Information Privacy Act, which was enacted by Illinois, is a unique legislative effort at the state level which addresses the handling and storage of biometric data. It provides that businesses must obtain informed consent before collecting such data, further underscoring the importance of transparency and accountability in corporate data management.
Meta’s recent settlement will likely be seen as a strong precedent, potentially influencing future court interpretations and corporate data handling practices surrounding the use of biometric technologies. In this time of evolving regulations, legal professionals should keep a close eye on similar advancements and legal challenges to stay proficient and responsive to the changing landscape.