Payments Distributed in Illinois Biometric Privacy Settlement

A new round of payments is being distributed to individuals involved in a biometric privacy settlement in Illinois, linked to the identity-verification company Onfido. This settlement arises from a lawsuit alleging violations of the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA), which requires companies to obtain written consent before collecting biometric data. The lawsuit contended that Onfido collected personal data from users who uploaded photos or videos of themselves along with a photo ID to various applications and websites operated by Onfido customers between June 12, 2015, and May 5, 2023.

According to the settlement, the affected individuals did not provide a written release or consent form allowing Onfido to gather or retain their biometric information. While Onfido denies any wrongdoing and maintains that BIPA does not apply to its services, the settlement has led to significant financial compensation for class members.

Distribution of Settlement Funds

The total fund for the settlement amounts to nearly $12,800,000 for members identified as part of the financial institution class, and approximately $15,700,000 for those in the non-financial institution class. Individuals whose identities were verified by financial services applications will receive an equal share from the financial institution fund. In contrast, those verified through non-financial applications, such as online marketplaces, are part of a separate class.

Payments were issued on October 23, 2023, via platforms including Venmo, PayPal, or Zelle. The latest distributions indicate that members of the non-financial institution class will receive $56.09, while those in the financial institution class will get $19.61. A final payment for electronic recipients is scheduled for February 2, 2027, with amounts projected to be $97.30 for non-financial institution class members and $33.17 for financial institution class members.

For members receiving checks, the distribution schedule varies. In 2024, non-financial institution class members received $69.51, while financial institution class members were allocated $23.69. The final payments for check recipients will amount to $209.79 for non-financial institution members and $72.82 for those in the financial institution class.

This settlement emphasizes the ongoing importance of biometric privacy and the legal frameworks that govern the collection of personal data. As more individuals engage with technology that requires identity verification, understanding privacy rights and the implications of data collection remains critical.