Google the Latest to Run Up Against Illinois Biometrics Law

Google has now fallen into the same legal trap that ensnared Facebook and Shutterfly. The company now faces a lawsuit over alleged violations of Illinois legislation covering biometrics and privacy.

The lawsuit pertains to Google’s use of facial recognition with its Google Photos app. A Chicago resident claims that a user took multiple photos of her, which were then uploaded to the service and automatically scanned by Google’s biometric technology, creating a biometric profile of the claimant despite her not being a Google Photos user. She claims the practice was a violation of her privacy.

In its outline, the case is remarkably similar to one filed against Facebook over its own use of facial recognition on pictures uploaded to the service, even when the individuals scanned are not registered users. The similarity bodes well for Google, given that the US District Court judge in Facebook’s case sided with the company, essentially arguing that it was not responsible for the behavior of its users.

Source: International Business Times

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March 7, 2016 – by Alex Perala