A $47.5 million settlement has resolved a class action lawsuit that accused Motorola Solutions and Vigilant Solutions of violating Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act. The lawsuit revolved around the companies' use of Motorola's FaceSearch facial recognition technology, which allegedly collected and used the biometric data of Illinois residents without following the state’s strict requirements for disclosure, consent, retention, and deletion.
The case centers on the use of FaceSearch, a powerful tool provided to law enforcement agencies, which grants access to a large database of booking photos. The class action claimed that this system unlawfully processed images of residents without their knowledge or consent, infringing upon their privacy rights under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act.
Illinois residents who had their photos processed using FaceSearch technology may be eligible for compensation. If you were present in Illinois at the time your face was captured, or if you are an Illinois resident whose image was included in law enforcement records, you could be part of this settlement. The settlement site, SimmonsBIPASettlement.com, provides more information and instructions for filing claims.
To file a claim, individuals must submit a valid claim form by the deadline of July 29, 2025. The form can be completed online by clicking the “Click to Start Claim Form” button, or a downloadable PDF version is available for those who prefer to mail their claim. Upon submission, claimants who are eligible may receive a pro-rata share of the $47.5 million settlement, with individual payouts ranging from $200 to $550, depending on the total number of valid claims received.
The final approval of the settlement is pending a court hearing scheduled for August 20, 2025, at which point payments to eligible claimants will begin. However, these amounts may vary depending on the volume of claims submitted.
The lawsuit alleged that Motorola Solutions and Vigilant Solutions failed to follow necessary procedures outlined by Illinois law regarding biometric data, including not obtaining proper consent from individuals, not disclosing data collection practices, and not properly deleting or storing the data after use.
This case highlights the increasing scrutiny over the use of biometric data, particularly by law enforcement, and serves as a reminder of the complexities and challenges involved in safeguarding individuals’ privacy in an age of rapidly advancing technology.