ALERT: Stop Using Snapchat NOW—The Inconvenient Truth

Snapchat has agreed to pay out $35 million dollars in a recent class action settlement…

The company stands accused of breaking Illinois’ biometric privacy law after concerned citizens sued the company for illegally collecting biometric data.

More specifically, without going through all of the regulatory housekeeping such as requiring written consent from the user, explaining when, and how biometric data will be stored and subsequently destroyed.

The company is reported to have broken Illinois law but does the law, and by extension, the specific statutes even matter?

Big tech firms are essentially exploiting everyone and collecting extremely sensitive data from all of us—this should concern everyone—law or no law.

What do they do with this data? Often it is used for marketing purposes, which is annoying, but not the end of the world. Other times the data is used for nefarious purposes and handed over to the state or a foreign government…

Do you really want all your biometric data and that of your children in the hands of the U.S. government, the CCP, or whoever else claims domain over these tech firms?

What is happening over at Snapchat isn’t unique to the firm, it seems to be a problem that plagues the entirety of big tech.

My solution to the problem? Stop using these platforms! If you or a loved one uses these platforms, get off. They’re bad for you, bad for them, bad for the country, but excellent for the pockets of a small handful.

Here’s more on the story:

According to Inputmag (via Chicago Tribune), the Snapchat parent company Snap has to pay $35 million to settle a class-action lawsuit in Illinois. The company was formerly accused of collecting users’ data through Snapchat’s filters and lenses. The roots o https://t.co/FUc5KdJFuA

— SlideME Market (@slideme) August 25, 2022

TikTok, Snapchat settle for millions in privacy lawsuits. Over allegations that biometric data were used/sold and otherwise violated privacy rights. Parents beware!!!!!!#newsnation https://t.co/nHMswfLd82

— Dr Erica Anderson (@eanderh) August 25, 2022

News Nation claims:

Earlier this week, Snapchat agreed to a $35 million settlement for Illinois residents who used the app’s lenses or filters since Nov. 17, 2015, the Rockford Register Star reports.

NATIONAL POLL: Do You Trust Fox News?

The issue in Snapchat’s case, according to the newspaper, is that every time a user takes a selfie or uses a filter, their facial features are scanned.

https://twitter.com/pvp4science/status/1562885533130702848

#Illinois Residents May Be Owed Money in a #Snapchat Lawsuit Worth Millions – https://t.co/i0DdwfSuRL

How to file a claim in #Illinois' #Snapchat lawsuit – https://t.co/uRIGy6G2rY #SocialMedia

— Long Live Twidda! (@DcSlumdog) August 25, 2022

Cnet explains:

Snap is not the first social media company to run afoul of the Illinois law: In 2020, Facebook agreed to a $550 million settlement after being sued by Illinois residents for collecting facial recognition data to tag photos without complying with BIPA.