Texas AG sues Google over collection of facial and vocal recognition data News
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Texas AG sues Google over collection of facial and vocal recognition data

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Thursday sued Google for allegedly collecting biometric data on millions of Texans without their informed consent. Paxton cited Texas’ Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act, which prohibits companies from collecting voice or face data for commercial purposes without first informing users.

Paxton alleged that, since at least 2015, Google collected data from Texans and “used their faces and their voices to serve Google’s commercial ends.” Paxton cites Google features such as Google Photos’s “Face Grouping,” which uses facial-recognition software to group similar faces together to form a folder of photos for a particular person. While the feature is helpful for users, Paxton argues that Google is using and storing Texans’ information for further development and use.

According to Paxton, “To Google, it does not matter that the three-year-olds, the bystanders, and grandma never consented to Google capturing and recording their biometric data.” Specifically, Paxton cites Face Grouping, the Nest Hub Max’s “Face Match” and Nest products’ “voice-controlled personal assistant” as programs whereby Google is able to collect biometric data from Texans. Paxton argues that these features violate the CUBI because they do not request consent before use or give users the option to opt out of the software.

Paxton asked a Texas state court to issue an injunction preventing Google from capturing, maintaining or in any way using biometric data obtained from Texans without consent. Further, Paxton request the court fine Google $25,000 for every CUBI violation.