Apple’s Face, Finger Tools Meet Illinois Privacy Law, Court Says

Apple Inc.'s facial and fingerprint features on its computers and smartphones don’t violate an Illinois privacy law because the company doesn’t possess the personal information, an appellate panel ruled.

Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act requires companies in possession of identifiers like facial scans or fingerprints to develop written policies establishing a retention and destruction schedule for that personal data. The plaintiffs argued that Apple product features Touch ID and Face ID collect and possess personal information in violation of the state’s privacy law.

A three-justice panel of the Illinois Court of Appeals for the First District rejected that argument Friday, ...