Illinois woman hits Target with class action lawsuit for collecting biometric data without her consent

Fox Business ^ | 4/16/2024 | Landon Mion

[simpson96]

An Illinois woman filed a class action lawsuit against Target, accusing the retail giant of collecting and storing her biometric data, including face and fingerprint scans, without her consent in violation of state law.

Arnetta Dean, who filed the lawsuit with the intention of preventing Target from further violating the privacy rights of state residents, is also pursuing statutory damages for the company's alleged collection, storage and use of customers' biometric data, according to the lawsuit obtained by FOX 32 Chicago.

The lawsuit, filed last month in Cook County, claims Target's surveillance systems, including cameras with facial recognition technology installed in Illinois stores, "surreptitiously" collect biometric data on customers without their knowledge or consent.

"Target does not notify customers of this fact prior to store entry, nor does it obtain consent prior to collecting its customers’ Biometric Data," the lawsuit said.

(snip)

Biometric data is unlike other identifiers used to access sensitive information because it is biologically unique and cannot be easily changed if compromised, putting individuals at increased risk for identity theft, the lawsuit said.

"For example, social security numbers, when compromised, can be changed," according to the lawsuit. "Biometrics, however, are biologically unique to the individual; therefore, once compromised, the individual has no recourse, is at heightened risk for identity theft, and is likely to withdraw from biometric-facilitated transactions."

[Hot Tabasco]

I'm getting periodic coupon flyers from Meijers based on specific Items I have purchased in the past and paid with my debit card.

They are gathering my debit card information and purchases and then targeting me with specific coupon offers.

I don't know if that is illegal or not

[LeoTDB69]

Not enough information. Are they storing this info or just comparing it against a federal database or something? I doubt Target itself would take on the expenditure of maintaining such a massive database.

[stanne]

Debit card info is a long way from facial recognition data.

People are used to doing face recognition for their banks etc

It’s a desensitization

I quit my bank when they demanded that

When they release that to some entity for a boatload of money all the lawsuits in the world won’t get it back

So. NO

[stanne]

Facial recognition and fingerprints are given out like they’re nothing. I wouldn’t do it for anything.

They’re desert it so they don’t see this piece for what it is.

They most certainly cannot take it without consent.

If target does that they’ll be shut down so fast it will curl your hair

I cannot take this woman seriously.

[dead]

If you have a face and go out in public, you are subject to facial recognition.

[yelostar]

The law doesn’t say they can’t collect biometric data; rather it sets stringent guidelines that private companies doing business in Illinois must comply with on the collection, storage and use of such data.

It’s interesting that the article specifically mentions fingerprints. The only thing that makes sense is that since Target has credit cards, they probably offer a fingerprint option to login. If that’s the case, it’s odd that BIPA info isn’t included in the terms of service. Once the legislation passed in 2008, you’d think that all the legal jargon was revised at that time.

[vivenne]

How? Facial recognition, fingerprints, etc. and the analyzing of the data that is likely sold for marketing and shared with intelligence agencies and CCP? I’m not sure I agreed to that but am interested in finding if somehow I did.

[ridesthemiles]

GOOD FOR HER

[Albion Wilde]

bump

[fuzzylogic]

That’s not exactly what the law says. Video recording is ‘capturing biometric data’. It’s what you do with it that matters.

If a company uses face recognition to apply an internal ID to a customer, how are you going to know? There are legitimate use-cases for how this might be helpful for both sides. It’s when biometrics get attached to financial details that we start to have a problem.

Fingerprints and retinal scans are far different than facial characteristics. As said, you’re recorded the moment you leave the house, your face isn’t private - unless you wear a burqa.

[stanne]

Whatever