A social media platform Facebook Inc. has again failed to get over a lawsuit that claims the company violated its photo scanning technology which flouts users’ privacy rights by storing their biometric details illegally.
U.S. District Judge of San Francisco ruled out that the largest social networking website must accept that they had been violating the privacy of millions of users by gathering and storing biometric data without their consent.
The Judge James Donato’s decision means that under a unique Illinois law Facebook has to pay fines of $1,000 to $5,000 each time a user's images are used without consent.
This lawsuit could restrict Facebook from using users biometrics in the U.S., similar to those in Europe and Canada.
“When an online service simply disregards the Illinois procedures, as Facebook is alleged to have done, the right of the individual to maintain her biometric privacy vanishes into thin air,” Donato wrote in Monday’s ruling. “The precise harm the Illinois legislature sought to prevent is then realized.”
However, Facebook has argued that none of the users had ever suffered any kind of physical harm, loss of money or property; or a denial of their right to free speech or religion.
“This injury is worlds away from the trivial harm of a mishandled zip code or credit card receipt,” Donato further added.
While a spokeswoman for Facebook declined to comment on the ruling.
U.S. District Judge of San Francisco ruled out that the largest social networking website must accept that they had been violating the privacy of millions of users by gathering and storing biometric data without their consent.
The Judge James Donato’s decision means that under a unique Illinois law Facebook has to pay fines of $1,000 to $5,000 each time a user's images are used without consent.
This lawsuit could restrict Facebook from using users biometrics in the U.S., similar to those in Europe and Canada.
“When an online service simply disregards the Illinois procedures, as Facebook is alleged to have done, the right of the individual to maintain her biometric privacy vanishes into thin air,” Donato wrote in Monday’s ruling. “The precise harm the Illinois legislature sought to prevent is then realized.”
However, Facebook has argued that none of the users had ever suffered any kind of physical harm, loss of money or property; or a denial of their right to free speech or religion.
“This injury is worlds away from the trivial harm of a mishandled zip code or credit card receipt,” Donato further added.
While a spokeswoman for Facebook declined to comment on the ruling.