Facebook In Soup Over Its Facial Recognition Tech: Texas Sues Social Media Giant For Using Unauthorised Biometric Data

The Texas Attorney General office has sued Meta's Facebook for Paxton has sued Facebook (now known as Meta) for allegedly violating state privacy protection law with its facial-recognition technology that collected biometric data of millions of Texans without their "informed consent".

The lawsuit, filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's office, accuses Facebook of capturing biometric information from photos and videos that users uploaded without consent, disclosing the information to others and failing to destroy it within a reasonable time, reports Economic Times.

"Facebook has been storing millions of biometric identifiers (defined by statute as “a retina or iris scan, fingerprint, voiceprint, or record of hand or face geometry”) contained in photos and videos uploaded by friends and family who used the social media app," the Texas Attoreny General's office said in a statement on Monday (14 February).

"By this illegal activity, Facebook exploited the personal information of users and non-users alike to grow its empire and reap historic windfall profits. The company repeatedly captured biometric identifiers without consent billions of times, in knowing violation of Texas’ Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act and the Deceptive Trade Practices Act," the statement said.

“Facebook will no longer take advantage of people and their children with the intent to turn a profit at the expense of one’s safety and well-being,” Attorney General Paxton said.

“This is yet another example of Big Tech’s deceitful business practices and it must stop. I will continue to fight for Texans’ privacy and security," he added.