Meta Sued Over Training Data for Its AI and Face-Recognition Systems
wired ·
A group of parents and their children in Illinois and California filed a proposed class action in federal court in Chicago alleging that Meta illegally used their Facebook and Instagram photos to train generative AI models, including Emu and Muse Image, and to build an unreleased face-recognition system for its smart glasses called NameTag. The suit claims Meta violated Illinois and California privacy laws by extracting biometric information without notice or consent, and it cites WIRED reporting that NameTag code was embedded in the Meta glasses AI companion app, which had been downloaded more than 50 million times. The complaint alleges the underlying faceprints may be derived from Facebook and Instagram images, pointing to employee accounts that NameTag could recognize people through Meta connections or public Instagram profiles and to a company patent on face matching against profile photos. Meta denied the allegations, saying it has been transparent about its use of people's information, that nothing has shipped to consumers, and that it is not building a universal face database. The proposed class covers people in Illinois, California, and across the United States whose images were uploaded to those platforms or submitted through Meta's generative AI prompts since September 4, 2021, and could number in the millions. Under Illinois' Biometric Information Privacy Act, plaintiffs seek $5,000 per intentional or reckless violation and $1,000 per negligent violation, or actual damages if greater, plus injunctive relief, with additional damages sought under California claims. The suit notes Meta's prior biometric settlements, including $650 million to an Illinois class in 2020 and $1.4 billion to Texas in 2024, and Meta has called the new lawsuit without merit while characterizing WIRED's earlier reporting as misleading.
wired