META SUED OVER ALLEGED BIOMETRIC DATA HARVESTING FOR SMART GLASSES

Meta Platforms is facing a proposed class-action lawsuit alleging that it collected and used photographs from Facebook and Instagram to develop facial-recognition technology for its smart glasses without obtaining users’ consent.

The 66-page complaint, filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, alleges that Meta used images belonging not only to Facebook and Instagram users, but also to people who never used its platforms, to train and test facial-recognition technology known internally as NameTag. The technology is designed for Meta’s Ray-Ban and Oakley smart glasses and the Meta AI companion application.

The plaintiffs, including Illinois resident Francisco Alvarez, his minor child, California resident Jeremy Wahl and Wahl’s minor daughter, allege that Meta’s conduct violated Illinois’ stringent biometric privacy protections.

At the centre of the case is the alleged conversion of ordinary photographs into biometric information capable of identifying individuals. That distinction is significant because biometric data, unlike conventional personal information, can be difficult or impossible for an individual to change once compromised.

The lawsuit adds another layer to Meta’s continuing privacy exposure. The company has previously faced major litigation over facial-recognition technology, including a Texas case that resulted in a $1.4 billion settlement in 2024 over allegations that Facebook collected biometric information without adequate consent.

The latest action comes as biometric technology becomes increasingly embedded in consumer devices, digital identity systems and artificial intelligence. For technology companies, the case highlights the growing regulatory importance of consent, data purpose limitation, retention controls and transparency when biometric information is used to train AI systems

For compliance teams, the issue extends beyond privacy notices. Companies deploying facial recognition or other biometric technologies must establish clear governance over how images are collected, converted into biometric data, stored, used for model development and ultimately deleted

The allegations in the lawsuit have not been proven in court.