Meta has agreed to pay $1.4 billion to the state of Texas to settle a lawsuit in which the company was accused of illegally using facial recognition technology. It is reported by Engadget.
The lawsuit alleged that Meta used this technology to collect biometric data from millions of Texans without their consent.
The lawsuit was filed in 2022 and was the first major case of violation of the Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act.
The law provides for a fine of up to $25 thousand for each violation. The state accused the company of billions of dollars of violations through the use of photos and videos that users uploaded to Facebook.
In addition, the lawsuit could have resulted in an additional $10 thousand for each violation of the Texas Fraudulent Trade Practices Act.
A Meta spokesperson said that the company is pleased with the settlement and that it is "exploring future opportunities to deepen its business investments in Texas, including potential data center development."
However, the company continues to deny any wrongdoing on its part.