Illinois Residents May Be Entitled to Payment from Instagram Class Action Settlement
Attention Illinois Instagram users: You may be entitled to a payment as part of a $68.5 million class action settlement against Meta, the parent company of Instagram.
The lawsuit:
- Filed in 2018, the lawsuit alleges that Instagram violated the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) by collecting and storing facial recognition data of its users in the state without obtaining their informed consent.
- BIPA is a strict law that requires companies to obtain written consent before collecting or storing biometric data, such as facial geometry scans.
Settlement details:
- The settlement, approved in September 2023, covers all Illinois residents who used Instagram between August 10, 2015, and August 16, 2023.
- Individuals who submit valid claims could receive a payment of between $25 and $400.
- The deadline to submit a claim is February 27, 2024.
How to claim your payment:
- You can visit the settlement website at https://www.classaction.org/biometric-privacy-lawsuits-facebook-instagram-oculus-whatsapp to learn more and submit a claim.
- You will need to provide your name, email address, and the dates you used Instagram while in Illinois.
- You can also submit a claim by mail or by phone.
Important notes:
- You do not need to have any proof that Instagram collected your facial recognition data to file a claim.
- You do not need to hire an attorney to file a claim.
- The claims process may take several months to complete.
Please note: This information is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have any questions about the settlement, you should consult with an attorney.
