Facebook Owes You Money

Dear Neighbor,

Privacy is a right that should be guaranteed and protected by government. It's an area that we legislate often, on questions ranging from policing to traffic cameras.

I'm proud to report that Illinois has some of the strongest privacy laws in the country. The Biometric Information Privacy Act, or BIPA, is a particularly forward-thinking piece of legislation. It says that companies can't collect, store, or give out "biometric data," which includes things like face or fingerprint scans, without letting us know and getting our consent.

Recently, Facebook was sued for violating this law in its "Tag Suggestions" feature. It settled the case for $650 million.

Any user who has lived in Illinois and had a photo of them uploaded to Facebook since 2011 is eligible for the settlement. Depending on how many people file claims, you should expect anywhere from $200 to $400. Click here to claim your money.

I know this might seem like a scam. But it's Facebook that ran the scam — using your face to power its algorithms without asking you or even telling you. That's a violation of Illinois law, and they need to pay.

We'll continue to fight for better and stronger legislation to protect your privacy from Big Tech. Meanwhile, claim what Facebook owes you for breaking the law.

Sincerely,

- Will