Tech

Facebook issues checks for $397 to Illinois residents as part of class action lawsuit


More than a million Illinois residents will receive a $397 payout from Facebook this week, thanks to a legal battle over a photo-tagging system that used the platform’s discontinued facial recognition feature this platform. It’s been almost seven years since the 2015 class-action lawsuit was first filed, alleging Facebook violations state privacy laws prohibits companies from collecting biometric data without notifying users. The platform has since become widespread, global criticism to use facial recognition technology and last year Meta took a break practice entirely on Facebook and Instagram. But like Vox NoteThe company hasn’t made a promise to avoid facial recognition in future products.

Although it was first filed in Illinois, the class action was eventually brought to Facebook’s home turf – in the US District Court for the Northern District of California. However, the court repeatedly denied the platform’s many motives for dismissing the lawsuit and ultimately certified the Illinois class action. Facebook tried to appeal the case’s certification to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, but was denied refuse. After Facebook initially agreed to settle the lawsuit for $550 million — at the time the largest sum from an online privacy class action — a federal judge fight back and indicates the amount is too small. Finally, last year’s company agreed for a total of $650 million.

What’s happening is an old Facebook problem photo tagging system, which relies on facial recognition to recognize users in photos and videos. Attorneys representing Illinois residents argued that the platform’s “Recommended Cards” feature violated the state’s Biometric Information Privacy Act. Any Facebook user in Illinois who has posted their photo or been tagged on the platform within a certain period of time is eligible to apply. file a claim. A total of nearly 1.6 million Illinois residents were included in the settlement.

Some Redditors reported receiving their settlement checks via direct deposit or by mail this week, although not everyone received their payments. “I did mine and my wife’s at the same time and got one yesterday and the other today. This is through Zelle,” note a user on Reddit.

Some people who chose to receive checks in the mail were slightly annoyed by its non-descriptive appearance. “Honestly, I almost threw mine away. It is delivered in a brown envelope made of recycled paper. Feels like a paper bag. I thought for sure it was spam,” speak a user on Reddit.

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