Meta settles Texas lawsuit for $1.4 billion
Filed in 2022 under Texas’ 2009 biometric privacy law, the lawsuit accused Meta of capturing biometric data through the ‘Tag Suggestions’ feature, which has since been discontinued.
Meta Platforms has agreed to a $1.4 billion settlement with Texas over allegations of illegally using facial-recognition technology to collect biometric data without consent. The case marks the largest settlement of its kind by any state. The lawsuit, initiated in 2022, accused Facebook of capturing biometric data from photos and videos uploaded by users through a ‘Tag Suggestions’ feature, which has since been discontinued.
Meta expressed satisfaction with the resolution and hinted at future business investments in Texas, including developing data centres. Despite the settlement, the company continues to deny any wrongdoing. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton emphasised the state’s dedication to holding the big tech companies accountable for privacy violations.
Why does it matter?
The settlement was reached in May, just before a state court trial began. Previously, Meta paid $650 million to settle a similar biometric privacy class action under Illinois law. Meanwhile, Google also faces a lawsuit in Texas for allegedly violating the state’s biometric privacy law.
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