Facebook in biometric privacy accord needs to pay $550 million

In a statement issued by lawyers for consumers, Facebook needs to pay $550 million to resolve claims that it collected user biometric data without consent in one of the largest consumer privacy settlements in US history.   

 

The accord, which requires a judge’s approval, will avert a trial that may have exposed the social networking company to billions of dollars in damages.

 

Facebook was unsuccessful to persuade the US Supreme Court to derail the class action case. The users alleged that without their permission, the photo-scanning technology of the company violated an Illinois law by gathering and storing biometric data.

 

The settlement was disclosed to investors on a quarterly earnings call.