Texas authorities have filed suit against Google over the collection and use of users’ biometric data without consent. The report comes from Engadget.
\n
According to Texas Attorney-General Ken Paxton, the company is suspected of violating the state’s biometric-identifier collection and use statute, enacted in 2009.
\n
According to the agency, Google scanned and stored face and voice information without user consent in the Photos and Assistant apps, as well as on Nest devices. It is alleged that the company used the collected data for commercial gain, training AI algorithms with them.
\n\n
“The indiscriminate collection of Texans’ personal information, including highly sensitive data such as biometric identifiers, is unacceptable,” Paxton said.
\n\n
The attorney-general asked the court to bar the company from capturing, maintaining, or otherwise using biometric identifiers obtained in Texas. Paxton also asked to stop performing voice or facial recognition within the state.
\n\n
Under the law, the company faces a $25,000 penalty for each proven violation.
\n\n
“I will continue to fight Big Tech to ensure the privacy and security of all Texans,” Paxton said.
\n\n
A Google spokesperson said the attorney-general’s office mischaracterises the company’s products.
\n\n
“For example, Photos helps organise people’s photos by grouping similar faces to aid in searching old pictures. This is visible only to users, and the feature can be turned off,” the tech giant said in a statement.
\n\n
The company noted that it does not use photos or videos for advertising. The same applies to Voice Match and Face Match on Nest Hub Max:
\n\n
“These features are turned off by default and give users the option to let Assistant recognise their voice or face to display their information.”
\n\n
Google says it intends to prove its case in court.
\n\n
Earlier in June, Illinois authorities fined the tech giant $100 million for facial recognition in Photos.
\n\n
Follow ForkLog’s news on Telegram: ForkLog AI — all the latest in AI.