Meta Platforms has agreed to a $1.4 billion settlement with the state of Texas over allegations that it unlawfully collected biometric data using facial-recognition technology without user consent. This settlement is the largest of its kind by any state to date. The lawsuit, filed in 2022, was based on Texas’ 2009 biometric privacy law and accused Meta, formerly known as Facebook, of capturing biometric information through its now-discontinued ‘Tag Suggestions’ feature. This feature was used to automatically suggest tags for people in photos and videos uploaded by users.
The settlement resolves the claims that Meta collected and stored facial-recognition data without obtaining proper consent, violating privacy rights. Although Meta has agreed to the settlement, the company continues to deny any wrongdoing. In response to the settlement, Meta expressed its satisfaction with the resolution and hinted at potential future investments in Texas, including plans to develop data centers in the state.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton underscored the state’s commitment to enforcing privacy laws and holding large technology companies accountable for any breaches. The settlement was finalized in May, just before the scheduled start of a state court trial.
This settlement follows a similar legal challenge Meta faced in Illinois, where the company paid $650 million to resolve a class action lawsuit concerning biometric privacy under Illinois law. Additionally, Google is currently facing a separate lawsuit in Texas for alleged violations of the state’s biometric privacy regulations.
