"Biometric Data and Liability: A Legal Tightrope as Illinois Weighs Responsibility for Data Misuse"

CHICAGO — The question of accountability regarding the misuse of biometric data, such as facial features and fingerprints, is increasingly pressing as technology advances. Illinois has been at the forefront of this debate, with its stringent regulations on biometric data outlined in the Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA), put into effect in 2008. In a notable case that underscored the potency of these regulations, Facebook faced a class-action lawsuit over allegations that its “Tag Suggestions” feature improperly utilized facial recognition technology without users’ consent. The case concluded in February 2021 with a $650 million settlement, … Read more

FTC Chair Sounds Alarm on Tech Firms Compromising Data Privacy for EU, UK Compliance

WASHINGTON — Chairwoman Lina Khan of the Federal Trade Commission issued a stern reminder to technology companies regarding the importance of maintaining strong data privacy standards, especially in light of compliance with foreign regulations from the European Union and the United Kingdom. Her remarks underscored the need for U.S. businesses to balance their obligations under these laws with their commitment to protecting consumer data. During a recent address, Khan emphasized that reducing privacy protections to align with the legal frameworks in these regions would be unacceptable. She noted that the growth of digital services has … Read more

Radiology Associates of Richmond Faces Legal Storm: Patients Sue for Millions After Massive Data Breach

North Chesterfield, Va. — Radiology Associates of Richmond is facing a growing legal crisis following a significant data breach that compromised the personal information of over 1.4 million patients. The medical practice has been named in at least ten lawsuits since July 7, all of which allege negligence related to the breach. The suits, filed in federal court, claim that the radiology firm failed to adequately secure patient data, leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information. These cases were consolidated into a single lawsuit, submitted on August 18 in the U.S. District Court for the … Read more

Google Faces $29 Billion Class Action Over Alleged Data Collection Misconduct as Privacy Trials Heat Up

San Francisco, California — A federal jury was presented with a request for $29 billion in damages from Google LLC users in a class action lawsuit that alleges the tech giant continued collecting personal data despite users disabling a privacy setting. The case, which commenced Tuesday, claims that almost 100 million users were misled by Google regarding the control they had over their data privacy. During the opening arguments in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, class attorney David Boies outlined the basis of the staggering damages claim. He noted that … Read more