Texas’ attorney general announced Tuesday that Meta has settled a lawsuit by paying $1.4 billion to end the use of facial recognition software without the consent of state citizens.
There have been violations of Texas law regarding using facial recognition software without the consent of individuals since 2009. In the two years since Texas filed a lawsuit, the massive $1.4 billion settlement represents the highest privacy fine any state attorney general has ever faced.
According to Attorney General Ken Paxton, Meta’s practices violated Texas’s “Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier” Act (CUBI Act). The settlement, according to his office, serves as a warning to companies that violate Texas citizens’ privacy rights.
Souls That Write dedicated team shares complete details on Meta Platforms settles Texas lawsuit over facial recognition data for $1.4 billion.
Detail about the Meta Platforms Texas lawsuit update
Meta’s lawsuit, filed in February 2022, concerns the launch 2011 of Tag Suggestions, a feature the company claimed would improve the efficiency of tagging photos with the names of their subjects.
Texans’ accounts were automatically tagged by Meta, which was used for over a decade without telling them or explaining how it worked.
Meta Platforms data collection violated CUBI
According to the release, the tech giant’s data collection violated CUBI and the state’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act, which protects consumers from false or misleading advertising and marketing.
It was said in the release that Paxton has prioritized pursuing companies that are exploiting technology to violate privacy laws. According to records previously obtained by Recorded Future News, Deputy Attorney General Kevin McKeon is investigating several car manufacturers who, according to records obtained by our publication, may be violating the state’s deceptive trade practices law as well due to their practices related to data privacy.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton In The Press
An announcement issued by the office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton described the settlement as “the biggest ever for a state.”
As Paxton stated in the statement, this is the largest privacy settlement ever obtained by an attorney general, surpassing the $390 million settlement that a group of 40 states achieved from Google in late 2022.
According to Little, he is also the first lawsuit and settlement in Texas involving Biometric Data to be settled under the “Capture or Use of Biometric Identifiers Act” of 2009, which was signed into law by Governor Rick Perry to regulate the commercial use of biometric data for individual identification.
Having vigorously pursued justice for citizens who were denied privacy protections because of Meta’s use of facial recognition software, it gives me great pleasure to announce that Paxton announced that the largest settlement ever achieved by a state in a single lawsuit had been reached. “
We believe that this settlement demonstrates our commitment to take on the largest technology companies in the world and hold them responsible for the breaches of Texas law and the rights of Texans. Abuse of sensitive Texans’ data will be dealt with rigorously.”
Litigations Related To Meta Platforms
It has been claimed that Meta is part of several lawsuits, including one for $725 million over allegations that it made data accessible to third parties without asking for permission from the user. A settlement agreement was reached between the company and the class action lawsuit in December 2022.
The federal court has also been served with a second lawsuit filed against Meta by more than 40 states alleging that the company is damaging the mental health of young people with its social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram, by addicting them.
