Facebook adds $100M to biometric privacy settlement in attempt to satisfy skeptical judge

Facebook has added $100 million to its proposed settlement in a Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) lawsuit, Fortune reports. The revision brings the total settlement proposed to $650 million.

The inability of the social media giant and plaintiffs’ attorneys to satisfy U.S. District Court Judge James Donato of California that the initial proposed settlement of $550 million, or roughly $150 per plaintiff, has raised the possibility that after a settlement was reached in principle, the case will go to trial anyway. Illinois’ BIPA entitles plaintiffs to damages ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 for each violation. A payment of $5,000 each could total $47 billion in penalties for Facebook.

According to Fortune, users in Illinois with pictures appearing on the site after 2011 could now be eligible for between $200 and $400. The settlement, if it is accepted, will likely be approved later this year, with funds being released in 2021.

“We are focused on settling as it is in the best interest of our community and our shareholders to move past this matter,” a Facebook spokesperson commented on the revision. Plaintiffs’ representation Edelson PC declined to comment.

Article Topics

biometric data  |  biometrics  |  BIPA  |  data protection  |  Facebook  |  facial recognition  |  lawsuit  |  legislation  |  privacy