Google has assembled a pot worth $100 million which is actually a fund that has to be shared among those eligible to be part of a settlement involving the Google Photos platform. Of course, not everyone is entitled to a share of this money. You must have been a resident of Illinois between May 1, 2015, and April 25, 2022, and appeared in a Google Photos image during that time range.
Do you qualify for a slice of a $100 million settlement fund put together by Google?
Read this to see whether you qualify for a slice of Google’s $100 million settlement pot
The site states that “If at any time between May 1, 2015, and April 25, 2022, you appeared in a photograph in Google Photos while you were an Illinois resident, you may be entitled to get a payment from a class action settlement.” And there is a button to press that takes you to the sheet you need to fill out to file a claim. The lawsuit was filed back in 2016 (the wheels of justice travel s-l-o-w-l-y).
Google’s defense is weak. It told CNET that Face Groupings, which allow images of the same person to be organized using facial recognition algorithms, “is only visible to you and you can easily turn off this functionality if you choose.” A final approval hearing is scheduled for September 28th with class members receiving their payments starting within 90 days after the court grants final approval and all appeals have been handled.
Sorry, a more precise payout date cannot be calculated. The website put up under the terms of the settlement to promote it says, “It is always uncertain whether and when appeals can be resolved, and resolving them can take time. No benefits will be provided until the Court has approved the settlement and any appeals have been resolved.”
There are 1.4 million Illinois residents entitled to file a claim
According to SEOHost.net, there are 1.4 million Illinois residents eligible to file a claim. The plaintiffs’ attorneys explain that eligible applicants will receive an equal portion of the $100 million settlement fund after the court awards legal fees and other expenses, which could be as much as 40% of the total. The actual cash amount will depend on the number of valid claims submitted.
Google isn’t the only tech-related company forced to make huge payouts due to Illinois’ BIPA. Last year, TikTok paid out a $92 million settlement while Snapchat just this month agreed to a $35 million settlement over BIPA violations. Facebook reached a settlement agreeing that its photo tagging feature violates BIPA forcing it to make payouts totaling $650 million.
Do lawyers love Illinois? You bet your sweet BIPA.
