Meta Agrees to $1.4B Settlement with Texas

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has agreed to a $1.4 billion settlement with Texas over allegations that it used facial recognition technology to collect biometric data from millions of Texans without their consent, violating the state's 'Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier' Act. This is the largest settlement ever obtained from an action brought by a single state, surpassing the $390 million settlement reached with Google by 40 states in 2022. The lawsuit, filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in 2022, claimed Meta's 'Tag Suggestions' feature harvested biometric data unlawfully. The settlement, which will be paid over five years, marks a significant enforcement of privacy laws against major technology companies. Meta has not admitted any wrongdoing but has expressed satisfaction with the resolution and plans to explore future business investments in Texas.