A $35 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit against Snapchat and its parent company, Snap Inc., was reached this month and could have Snapchat users in Illinois eligible for a payout of between $58 to $117.
The original lawsuit alleged that Snapchat’s lenses and filters collected and stored users’ biometric information without informed consent, which would violate the state’s biometric privacy laws.
Illinois’ Biometric Privacy Act (BIPA) prohibits private-sector companies and institutions from collecting biometric data from unsuspecting residents in the state or online. Under Illinois law, that data cannot be sold, transferred, or traded, and citizens are allowed to sue for alleged violations.
Illinois residents who have used lenses or filters on Snapchat since November 17, 2015, which attorneys estimate could be as many as 3.8 million people, may qualify for a piece of the settlement.Residents who believe they may be eligible have until November 5 to file a claim. More information about the settlement and filing a claim is available at https://www.snapillinoisbipasettlement.com/.