Meta Agrees to $1.4B Settlement in Texas Biometric Data Case

Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, has agreed to a $1.4 billion settlement with the state of Texas to resolve allegations that it illegally used facial-recognition technology to collect biometric data from millions of Texans without their consent. The settlement, announced by Texas lawyers, is the largest ever by a single state and stems from a lawsuit filed in 2022 under Texas' 2009 biometric privacy law, which allows for damages of up to $25,000 per violation.

This legal action is the first significant case brought under the Texas law, known as the Capture or Use of Biometric Identifiers Act (CUBI). The Texas Attorney General's office has taken a leading role in enforcing the law, with this settlement marking a notable achievement in its efforts. Meta has previously settled similar biometric privacy cases in Illinois, including a $550 million settlement in 2020 and a $68.5 million settlement in 2022. A spokesperson for Meta expressed satisfaction with the resolution and indicated the company’s interest in future business investments in Texas.