Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has agreed to a $1.4 billion settlement with the state of Texas in a lawsuit regarding its facial recognition technology. The lawsuit alleged that Meta violated the state’s biometric privacy laws by using facial recognition technology without obtaining proper consent from users. This settlement marks one of the largest in history involving allegations of privacy violations.
The lawsuit was filed in 2021 by the Texas attorney general’s office, and it accused Meta of unlawfully collecting biometric data from users without their knowledge or consent. This data was allegedly used to power Meta’s facial recognition technology, which was used in various features on its platform.
As part of the settlement, Meta has agreed to pay $1.4 billion to the state of Texas, with the funds going towards a trust dedicated to protecting consumer privacy. In addition, Meta has also agreed to make changes to its facial recognition technology to ensure that it complies with the state’s biometric privacy laws.
This settlement sends a strong message to tech companies about the importance of respecting user privacy and obtaining proper consent before using biometric data. It also highlights the potential legal risks associated with the use of facial recognition technology, which has become increasingly controversial in recent years.
Overall, this settlement is a significant development in the ongoing debate over privacy rights in the digital age. It serves as a reminder to consumers to be aware of how their biometric data is being used and to hold tech companies accountable for any violations of their privacy rights.
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