Meta—the parent company of Facebook and Instagram—just agreed to pay a massive $1.4 billion to Texas! 😱 The reason? Allegedly collecting facial recognition data from millions of users without permission. Sneaky, huh?
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced the settlement on Tuesday. He claimed Meta violated state privacy laws by automatically tagging users' faces without asking first. \"This historic settlement demonstrates our commitment to standing up to the world's biggest technology companies and holding them accountable for breaking the law and violating Texans' privacy rights,\" Paxton said. \"Any abuse of Texans' sensitive data will be met with the full force of the law.\"
In case you didn't know, Texas has strict biometric privacy laws. That means companies must get your okay before using tech like facial recognition. It's all about keeping your data safe and sound. 👍
This settlement is the largest privacy payout by a U.S. state ever! States like Texas, Illinois, and Washington are stepping up their game in the absence of federal privacy laws. Big Tech, take note! 🔥
So next time you upload a selfie, remember: your face is your own, and it's priceless! 😉
Reference(s):
Meta to pay $1.4 billion over facial recognition privacy violations
cgtn.com
