S.T.O.P. Launches Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) Litigation Tracker

View this email in your browser For Immediate Release S.T.O.P. Launches Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) Litigation Tracker (New York, NY, 12/8/2022) - Today, the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.), a New York-based privacy and civil rights group, launched a litigation tracker that records all cases filed under Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). BIPA, which prohibits companies from collecting consumers’ biometric information, has quickly become the leading national biometric privacy law. The organization found a majority of BIPA claims allege workplace misconduct, reflecting the rise in employee surveillance during the Covid-19 pandemic. SEE: S.T.O.P. - Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) Litigation Tracker https://www.stopspying.org/bipa-litigation-tracker “Our BIPA tracker offers a small snapshot of the invasive surveillance committed by private firms and the willingness of employers and educational institutions to violate worker and student privacy,” said Surveillance Technology Oversight Project Legal Director David Siffert. “Illinois has long been ahead of the curve in protecting residents from biometric surveillance, so we can only imagine the extent of similar abuses in other states. It’s time for the rest of the country to catch up, and we must continue the fight for national bans against all biometric surveillance abuses.” Key Findings Include: Almost all BIPA lawsuits are brought as class actions. Over 100 of 182 lawsuits allege illegal employee surveillance, primarily fingerprinting. 51 of 182 lawsuits allege illegal facial recognition surveillance. Other BIPA violations involve remote proctoring services; identity verification for customers, application users, and employees; and companies that contribute and disclose biometric data to Clearview AI for their facial recognition database. Last year, S.T.O.P. welcomed controversial facial recognition vendor Clearview AI’s settlement with the American Civil Liberties Union agreeing to cease sales to government agencies in Illinois and private entities anywhere in the United States. The decision came in litigation where the ACLU claimed that the facial recognition firm violated BIPA. SEE: Press Release - S.T.O.P. Welcomes Clearview AI, ACLU Settlement, Calls For National Ban https://www.stopspying.org/latest-news/2022/5/9/stop-welcomes-clearview-ai-aclu-settlement-calls-for-national-ban The New York Times - Clearview AI settles suit and agrees to limit sales of facial recognition database. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/09/technology/clearview-ai-suit.html The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project is a non-profit advocacy organization and legal services provider. S.T.O.P. litigates and advocates for privacy, fighting excessive local and state-level surveillance. Our work highlights the discriminatory impact of surveillance on Muslim Americans, immigrants, and communities of color. -- END -- CONTACT: S.T.O.P. Legal Director David Siffert, Communications Director Will Owen   Copyright © 2021 Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.