In an uncommon legal settlement, class members suing Clearview AI have been awarded a 23% stake in the facial recognition technology company. This decision, approved by U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman of the Northern District of Illinois, marks a shift from traditional monetary settlements under Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act. The settlement faced objections from 22 state attorneys general, including representatives from California, New York, and other jurisdictions, as well as individual objectors with backing from Public Citizen. However, Judge Coleman determined that awarding equity was a preferable option to monetary damages that might jeopardize the company’s continued operations.
For additional insights into this decision, which signifies a significant moment in privacy settlement approaches, you can read the full article here.