If you live in California, you may be eligible for a $27.5 million settlement from Thomson Reuters. But act quickly, because you only have until Friday to register.
Thomson Reuters is a Canadian media and technology conglomerate, best known as the parent company of the British media outlet Reuters. In October, the company reached a settlement agreement in a class-action lawsuit alleging that it used its own AI program, Clear, to collect personal information from people without their consent and then sold that information to various entities. The company has been accused of doing this all over the United States, but this specific lawsuit only affects California residents.
Survey results published by the International Association of Privacy Professionals In a 2023 Consumer Confidence Report, respondents around the world are concerned about the impact of AI technology on their privacy. About 57% of consumers surveyed by IAPP said that “AI poses a significant threat to their privacy.” The group also cited a 2023 study from KPMG and the University of Queensland, which found that 53% of respondents believed “AI will make it harder for people to keep their personal information private.”
If you think you might be eligible for this settlement from Thomson Reuters, read on for all the details. To learn more about other class action settlements, find out if you’re eligible for the 23andMe data breach settlement.
Why the Thomson Reuters class action settlement?
Thomson Reuters was initially sued in 2020 by California activist Cat Brooks and journalist Rasheed Shabazz. The two men accused the company of using Clear to harvest “a large quantity of photos, identifying information and personal data of American consumers, including Californians, without their consent.” This information, according to the suit, was then sold to “businesses, law enforcement and government agencies.”
Who is eligible for this class action settlement?
This settlement is open to anyone who resided in California between December 3, 2016 and October 31, 2024. The payment for each claimant is estimated between $19 and $48.
You can adhere to these regulations by by filling out this online form.
What is the deadline to join this class action settlement?
Eligible applicants have until Friday, December 27, 2024 to opt-in to the Thomson Reuters policy. This deadline was initially set for December 6, but was later extended.
For more, find out why Apple says AI will improve its privacy offerings while Microsoft’s AI tools have faced delays due to privacy concerns.
