Facebook Scores Arbitration of Instagram Users’ Privacy Case

Instagram users who say their biometric information was collected by Facebook Inc. in violation of Illinois law must individually arbitrate their claims, according to a federal court in California.

The plaintiffs claimed the company collected, stored, and profited from the biometric data of more than 100 million Instagram users without their knowledge or consent, as required under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act. Specifically the plaintiffs alleged Facebook used the information to “power, train, and develop its facial recognition software.” They sought to have the case certified as a class action on behalf of Instagram users living in Illinois.

The ...