On February 28, 2024, a federal judge in California has limited some of the claims made by a proposed class action which asserts that Meta Platforms Inc. is in violation of Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). The alleged violation pertains to Meta’s unlawful utilization of voice recordings made by users on its Facebook and Messenger platforms.
While certain allegations have been trimmed, the plaintiff has been given the provision to modify claims indicating that the social media titan had profited from and improperly stored her data. This development follows a series of privacy-related legal issues faced by the company globally.
The Illinois’ BIPA is aimed at protecting individuals against the unauthorized collection and storage of biometric data, which includes voiceprints. If companies are found to be in violation, they can face severe financial penalties.
Although the lawsuit against Meta is still at a preliminary stage, the possible outcomes might bear significance for privacy law adherence, considering Meta’s wide base of users across its Facebook and Messenger platforms.
For more details about this ongoing case, please visit
Law360.