Meta's Mark Zuckerberg is set to testify in a Texas lawsuit over alleged unauthorized facial recognition technology use, posing a significant legal hurdle for the tech giant. (AP)
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is set to be deposed in a Texas legal battle where the social media giant is accused of using facial recognition technology without user consent. A Texas state appeals court upheld a previous decision, mandating Zuckerberg's testimony in the case that originated in 2022. The lawsuit alleges that Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, engaged in the "secret harvesting" of biometric data from users, a practice purportedly in violation of state law.
This recent court ruling dealt a setback to Meta's attempts to avoid having its CEO testify. Texas argued that Zuckerberg's unique personal knowledge is crucial to uncovering relevant information pertaining to the claims made in the lawsuit. As of now, Meta has not responded to requests for comments on the court's decision, according to reports by Bloomberg.
The Texas legal action asserts that Meta collected biometric data from user-uploaded photos and videos, sharing this information with third parties while failing to promptly delete the gathered identifiers. The state of Texas is reportedly seeking substantial civil penalties, with potential fines reaching $25,000 for each violation of applicable state laws. Meta has consistently dismissed the lawsuit as lacking merit.
This legal dispute traces back to February 2022, when Texas Attorney General Ken Patton accused Meta of attempting to exploit individuals, especially children, for profit, potentially compromising their safety and well-being. In response to the controversy, Meta announced in November 2021 its decision to shut down its facial recognition program and proceeded to delete associated data for over a billion users. Despite these measures, the legal battle in Texas continues, with Zuckerberg now expected to provide testimony in the ongoing case.
