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Aug 26, 2025

Google Biometric Privacy Class Action Settlement Details June 2025

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Google’s June 2025 biometric privacy settlement includes an $8.75 million Illinois fund for student data violations and a separate $1.375 billion Texas agreement. You’ll likely receive $30-$100 if eligible as an Illinois resident who used Google Workspace or G Suite for Education between 2015-2025. Claims must be filed by October 16, 2025, with parents/guardians submitting for minors. The settlement follows violations of biometric consent laws across multiple states. Further details reveal significant implications for data privacy rights.

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Key Takeaways

Google reached an $8.75 million settlement for BIPA violations involving improper collection of biometric data from Illinois students.
Eligible Illinois residents who used Google Workspace or G Suite for Education can receive between $30-$100 compensation.
Claims must be submitted through GoogleEducationBIPASettlement.com by October 16, 2025, with required proof of Illinois residency.
Final approval hearing is scheduled for October 14, 2025, with funds distributed within 90 days after resolving appeals.
Parents/guardians must submit claims for minors, providing documentation of school enrollment and activated biometric features.

Illinois $8.75M Student Biometric Data Settlement Overview

A landmark $8.75 million settlement has been reached in the case against Google for alleged violations of Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). The settlement addresses claims that Google improperly collected biometric data from Illinois students using Google Workspace and G Suite for Education platforms between March 26, 2015, and May 15, 2025.

The BIPA implications extend to Chromebooks pre-installed with Voice Match and Face Match features that allegedly captured students’ biometric identifiers without proper consent protocols. This resolution highlights growing concerns around student privacy in educational technology environments. Privacy professionals from the IAPP have been monitoring this case as a significant precedent for biometric data protection. If you’re an Illinois resident who used these Google services during the specified period, you may qualify for compensation estimated between $30-$100 after administrative costs and legal fees are deducted. Despite agreeing to the settlement, Google maintains no wrongdoing in the handling of student biometric data. Parents or guardians must submit claims on behalf of eligible minors who cannot file for themselves. The claim submission deadline is October 16, 2025, giving affected individuals ample time to file their documentation. The court has scheduled a final approval hearing on October 14, 2025, after which payments will be distributed if no appeals are filed.

Texas $1.375B Privacy Violation Agreement Explained

Texas has secured a landmark $1.375 billion settlement with Google, resolving extensive privacy violation claims filed by Attorney General Ken Paxton in 2022. This agreement represents the largest single-state recovery against Google for privacy violations, markedly surpassing California’s $93 million settlement and a proposed $391 million multistate agreement.

The Texas Settlement addresses allegations that Google’s practices violated state privacy laws through:

Unauthorized geolocation tracking despite users disabling location settings
Collection of biometric data including facial geometry and voiceprints without proper consent
Misrepresentation of Incognito mode’s privacy protections while continuing to record search histories

The settlement notably does not require Google to implement any changes to practices or modify its product disclosures moving forward. Similar to other BIPA settlements, Google has not admitted any wrongdoing in this case.

High-powered law firms working on contingency contracts helped secure this massive settlement, with partners billing $3,780 hourly for their legal services against the tech giant.

While Google denies wrongdoing, framing this as resolution of “old claims,” the settlement establishes Texas as a leader in aggressive enforcement of state-level data privacy regulations against technology companies. The lawsuit was part of Paxton’s initiative to create the largest state data privacy enforcement program in the United States.

Eligibility Requirements and Claim Filing Process

You’re eligible to file a claim in the Google Education BIPA settlement if you resided in Illinois while enrolled in an Illinois school between March 26, 2015, and May 15, 2025, with Voice Match and/or Face Match features enabled. Parents or guardians must submit claims for minors, ensuring all funds benefit the affected child directly. Documentation requirements include submitting a valid claim form by the October 16, 2025 deadline, which will undergo verification to prevent fraudulent submissions.

Who Can File

To qualify for the Google Biometric Privacy Settlement, individuals must meet several specific eligibility criteria established under the class action agreement. Your claim eligibility depends on whether you attended an Illinois school between March 26, 2015, and May 15, 2025, while residing in the state. You must have used a Google Workspace for Education or G Suite for Education account with biometric consent features enabled. The case focuses on Google’s alleged collection of biometric data without proper disclosure to users.

Account Requirements – You must have held a Google Workspace for Education or G Suite for Education account during the eligibility period
Feature Activation – Your account must have had Voice Model/Match or Face Model/Match features enabled
Filing Status – Adults may file directly, while guardians must submit claims on behalf of minors

Claims must be submitted by October 16, 2025, with estimated payments between $30-$100 per claimant.

Documentation Needed

Filing a claim for the Google Biometric Privacy Settlement requires thorough documentation to verify your eligibility and properly complete the submission process.

Your documentation checklist must include proof of Illinois residency during the March 26, 2015-May 15, 2025 timeframe, evidence of enrollment in an Illinois school using Google Workspace or G Suite for Education, and records showing voice or facial match feature activation. For claims on behalf of minors, parent/guardian authorization is essential.

The eligibility criteria also necessitate submitting your claim through GoogleEducationBIPASettlement.com before October 16, 2025, with all required fields completed. You’ll need to provide clear identification matching your school and residency records, plus a signed attestation confirming truthfulness under penalty of perjury. Direct deposit recipients should include bank account information for payment processing. Under the Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Act, developers must ensure their biometric identification systems collect data with proper notice and consent when used for commercial purposes.

Expected Payout Amounts and Distribution Timeline

Claimants in the education settlement can expect to receive between $30-$100 per person from the $8.75 million fund, after deductions of up to $3.5 million in attorneys’ fees and other costs. The payout process begins after the final approval hearing on October 14, 2025, with funds being distributed within 90 days following the resolution of any appeals. The settlement addresses Google’s alleged collection of biometric data from Illinois students without proper consent through their GWFE platform. You must submit your claim by the October 16, 2025 deadline to qualify for your pro-rata share of the settlement proceeds.

Per-Claimant Payment Estimates

Three distinct settlement funds establish varying compensation structures for affected individuals across the Google biometric privacy cases. As a potential claimant, you’ll need to comprehend the expected payouts and associated uncertainties for each settlement category. The Illinois student settlement offers the most transparent claimant expectations, with individual payments projected between $30-$100 from the $8.75 million fund.

Illinois student payouts will fluctuate based on total valid claims submitted by October 16, 2025
Texas settlement funds ($1.375 billion) go directly to state authorities with no individual distributions
The $100 million facial biometrics settlement distribution method remains unspecified pending court approval

Final payment amounts you’ll receive depend on administrative costs, legal fees, and total claimant numbers. The pro-rata distribution guarantees fair allocation among all verified participants.

Funds Disbursement Schedule

Although the court’s final approval represents the critical milestone for fund disbursement, you’ll need to adhere to several key deadlines that structure the settlement timeline. The October 16, 2025 claim submission deadline is non-negotiable, while the exclusion period closes on September 1, 2025.

The fund allocation process begins after the October 14, 2025 final approval hearing, assuming the settlement becomes effective. Your payment schedules will depend on post-approval proceedings, with distributions calculated from the $8.75 million net settlement after administrative and legal fees are deducted. This amount is considerably smaller than the record $1.4 billion settlement Google paid to Texas for similar privacy violations. This case reflects a pattern of litigation around biometric data collection without proper user consent. Individual payouts are determined by total valid claims received, not predetermined amounts. Be aware that objections or appeals may delay the timeline, as the administrator must verify all submissions before initiating payments.

Legal Basis for Biometric Privacy Lawsuits Against Google

While the biometric privacy landscape continues to evolve, Google has faced numerous lawsuits primarily grounded in alleged violations of Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). These legal challenges center on Google’s failure to obtain proper biometric consent and disclose data retention policies for facial recognition features in Google Photos and other products.

Key legal foundations include:

Section 15(a) and (b) violations – Courts have established that Google’s “face templates” qualify as protected biometric identifiers, even after transformation
Article III standing requirements – Federal courts require plaintiffs to demonstrate concrete injuries beyond statutory violations
State-specific regulations – Beyond BIPA, Google faces litigation under Texas CUBI, creating a complex multi-jurisdictional compliance challenge

The $100 million Rivera settlement exemplifies the significant financial liability companies face when processing biometric data without proper consent. As demonstrated in Rivera v. Google on December 29, 2018, defendants can successfully challenge claims by showing lack of concrete injury required for Article III standing. The Illinois Supreme Court has established that separate claims accrue for each unauthorized biometric scan or transmission, significantly increasing potential liability for repeated violations. Recent court rulings have consistently emphasized the need for plaintiffs to provide substantial evidence of unauthorized data collection to sustain BIPA claims. Google could face potential fines of $25,000 per violation under Texas’s Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act.

How Google’s Data Collection Practices Violated State Laws

Despite operating multiple digital platforms across the United States, Google’s data collection practices have systematically violated state-specific biometric privacy laws, resulting in significant legal consequences.

In Texas, Google violated the Biometric Identifier Act by collecting facial geometry and voiceprints without informed consent through Google Photos, Nest Hub Max, and Assistant. Washington cases revealed similar violations, where companies failed to secure proper biometric consent before implementing facial recognition technologies. Illinois’ BIPA cases exposed how Google collected student biometric data through educational platforms without transparent disclosure. The $1.375 billion Texas settlement represents the largest state-level privacy settlement against Google to date.

Across all jurisdictions, Google’s pattern demonstrates disregard for data transparency requirements, misleading users about privacy protections in services like Chrome’s Incognito mode while continuing to track locations despite disabled settings. These violations triggered enforcement under various state frameworks, culminating in unprecedented settlements. This parallels Meta’s recent 1.4 billion dollar settlement with Texas over unauthorized biometric data collection practices.

Future Biometric Data Handling Requirements for Google

Following the unprecedented legal settlements, Google must implement sweeping changes to its biometric data handling protocols that will reshape how you interact with their services. These stringent privacy requirements coincide with Google’s evolving stance on device fingerprinting and passive data collection methods. ICO has clearly stated that user consent is required for device fingerprinting under existing privacy regulations.

Mandatory Multi-Factor Authentication implementation by end of 2025 for all users, including those federating authentication into Google Cloud services
Explicit prohibition against using biometric data for Attribution Reporting systems that previously allowed processing without direct user interaction
Legal obligation to provide thorough disclosures about which passive identifiers are collected, with particular scrutiny for data that could create digital fingerprints capable of unique identification

These requirements aim to restore control to users while addressing the privacy advocacy concerns raised by organizations like the EFF. The settlement addresses the controversial February 2025 policy shift where Google began allowing advertisers to access device-level identifiers without explicit consent. Google is actively promoting biometric verification as one of the available options for multi-factor authentication alongside one-time codes. Privacy experts have emphasized that the lack of opt-out options for digital fingerprinting significantly restricts user autonomy over their personal data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I File Claims for Both Illinois and Texas Settlements?

Yes, you can file for both settlement eligibility opportunities if you meet each state’s specific claims criteria—Illinois school enrollment with biometric features and Texas residency with affected services.

How Will Google Verify My Eligibility for the Settlement?

Your eligibility for the settlement will be verified through school records cross-checks, feature log analysis, and account timeline validation to confirm you meet all eligibility requirements during the settlement verification process.

Will Accepting Settlement Funds Prevent Future Claims Against Google?

Accepting settlement funds only limits future claims related to specific allegations covered in that settlement. You’ll retain rights to pursue unrelated matters despite the settlement implications.

Are Non-Students Affected by Google’s Biometric Data Collection Eligible?

Yes, you’re eligible as a non-student if your biometric data was collected. Both Illinois BIPA and Texas settlements protect privacy rights regardless of student status, though eligibility criteria differ by settlement.

What Biometric Data Does Google Still Collect After These Settlements?

After settlements, Google still collects facial geometry, voiceprints, and behavioral biometrics with your consent for services like Photos, Assistant, and authentication, though with enhanced privacy controls and transparency requirements.