Meta, the tech giant behind Facebook and Instagram, will pay Texas $1.4 billion to resolve allegations it illegally harvested facial recognition data from users without consent — the largest privacy-related settlement ever by a U.S. state. 💥 The lawsuit accused Meta of violating Texas’ biometric privacy law by automatically tagging users’ faces, sparking a fiery legal showdown.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced the settlement Tuesday, calling it a “historic win” for privacy rights. 🔍 “No company, not even Meta, is above the law when it comes to abusing Texans’ sensitive data,” he declared, flexing the state’s legal muscle against Big Tech.
The case highlights how states like Texas, Illinois, and Washington are stepping up as privacy watchdogs, especially with no federal law governing biometric data. 📜 Texas’ “Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier” law requires companies to ask permission before using tech like facial recognition — a rule Meta allegedly ignored while scanning millions of faces.
As debates over AI ethics and digital surveillance heat up 🌡️, this case sets a fiery precedent. Could more states follow Texas’ lead? Stay tuned. 👀
