In a shocking turn of events, a class-action lawsuit has been filed against a popular online casino app, alleging that the company has been unlawfully retaining biometric data of its users. The lawsuit, filed in federal court on behalf of over 100 plaintiffs, claims that the casino app has been collecting and storing users’ facial recognition data without their consent.
The app in question, which boasts millions of users worldwide, allows players to access a wide array of casino games and participate in virtual gambling. Users are required to create an account and provide personal information, including their name, email address, and payment details. However, it has now come to light that the app has also been using facial recognition technology to scan and store users’ biometric data.
According to the lawsuit, the casino app’s terms of service did not disclose that users’ biometric data would be collected or retained. The plaintiffs allege that this practice violates their privacy rights and puts their personal information at risk of being hacked or misused.
The lawsuit further claims that the app’s retention of users’ biometric data is in violation of the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA), a state law that regulates the collection and storage of biometric data. Under BIPA, companies must obtain explicit consent from users before collecting or retaining biometric information, and must also have a clear policy for securely storing and protecting this data.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages for violations of BIPA, as well as injunctive relief to prevent the app from continuing to collect and retain users’ biometric data without their consent. The lawsuit also seeks to compel the app to delete all biometric data it has collected from users.
In response to the lawsuit, a spokesperson for the online casino app stated that the company takes user privacy and data security seriously, and is currently reviewing the allegations made in the lawsuit. The spokesperson emphasized that the app has strict data protection measures in place, and that all user data is encrypted and stored securely.
This lawsuit underscores the growing concerns surrounding the collection and retention of biometric data by technology companies. As facial recognition technology becomes more prevalent in everyday life, it is crucial for companies to be transparent about how they are using this data and to obtain consent from users before collecting it. The outcome of this lawsuit could have far-reaching implications for the way that online companies handle biometric information in the future.
