Meta Platforms (META) has agreed to a $1.4 billion settlement with the state of Texas over allegations that the Facebook parent company illegally captured and used users’ biometric data without consent.
“After vigorously pursuing justice for our citizens whose privacy rights were violated by Meta’s use of facial recognition software, I’m proud to announce that we have reached the largest settlement ever obtained from an action brought by a single state,” stated Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
The lawsuit, initiated in 2022, claimed Meta’s prior use of facial recognition technology breached the state’s Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act and the Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
“This historic settlement underscores our commitment to confronting the world’s largest technology companies and holding them accountable for breaking the law and violating Texans’ privacy rights. Any misuse of Texans’ sensitive data will face the full force of the law,” Paxton emphasized.
The attorney general’s office highlighted that Facebook’s 'Tag Suggestions' feature, introduced in 2011, ostensibly aimed to simplify the process of tagging individuals in photos. In reality, the feature examined nearly every face on Facebook using facial recognition software, “capturing records of the facial geometry of the people depicted.”
In 2021, Facebook discontinued its facial recognition systems, citing “growing concerns about the use of this technology as a whole.”
“We are pleased to resolve this matter and are eager to explore future opportunities to expand our business investments in Texas, including potentially developing data centers,” a Meta spokesperson told CNBC.
