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Apple Photos lawsuit over facial recognition data can move forward

yahoo.com · · International · Enforcement

A lawsuit alleging that Apple's Photos app collected facial recognition data without proper user consent has been cleared to proceed. The ruling allows plaintiffs to pursue claims that Apple processed biometric information in ways users were not adequately informed about.

Why this matters: Facial recognition data is not like a password you can change. It is tied to your face, permanently. If Apple's Photos app was scanning and processing biometric data without clear consent, that is a serious problem, not a paperwork one. Biometric privacy laws exist precisely because this kind of data collection is one-way. You cannot reset your face after a breach. This case moving forward means a court will actually examine what Apple collected, how, and whether users had any real choice in the matter.

Who should care: Lawyers · Privacy officers · Compliance · Cybersecurity · General readers · Policy

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