John Hancock voiceprint lawsuit investigation: Illinois BIPA eligibility

Illinois consumers and financial advisors may qualify to take legal action if their biometric information was collected during calls.

You may qualify to participate in the John Hancock class action investigation if you lived in Illinois and called John Hancock between Jan. 31, 2019, and Jan. 11, 2021, about life insurance, long-term care insurance or annuities.

What to know about the John Hancock biometric privacy lawsuit

• Core Issue: Attorneys are reviewing whether callers’ voiceprints were collected without the notice and consent required by Illinois biometric privacy law.

• Who it Affects: The investigation focuses on Illinois consumers, financial advisors and their assistants who called John Hancock between Jan. 31, 2019, and Jan. 11, 2021, about life insurance, long-term care insurance or annuities.

• Harm/Impact: Unlike a password, a voiceprint is a unique biometric identifier that cannot be changed. Illinois law gives consumers the right to know when this type of information is being collected and how it will be used. Collecting voiceprints without proper notice and consent may violate those privacy protections.

• Legal Status: Attorneys are actively investigating claims.

• Take Action: Complete the form on this page to check if your John Hancock call qualifies.

What is the John Hancock biometric privacy lawsuit about?

A John Hancock BIPA lawsuit alleges that the voiceprints of some Illinois residents were collected during calls to John Hancock without the notice and consent required by Illinois law.

These claims argue that:

• Voiceprints were collected during certain calls to John Hancock regarding life insurance, long-term care insurance or annuities.
• Illinois callers were not provided the disclosures or written consent forms required by the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) before voice biometric information was allegedly collected.

As a result, Illinois callers may have had their biometric privacy rights violated and may be entitled to compensation.

Illinois law and your right to control your biometric data

Illinois was the first state in the nation to pass a law protecting consumers’ biometric information. Enacted in 2008, the Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) gives Illinois residents certain rights before companies can collect or store biometric data.

Under BIPA, companies must:

• Tell individuals what biometric information is being collected.
• Explain why the information is being collected and how it will be used.
• Disclose how long the information will be stored.
• Obtain written consent before collecting biometric data.
• Maintain policies governing the retention and destruction of biometric information.
• Use reasonable measures to keep biometric data secure.

BIPA also restricts companies from selling or profiting from biometric information. In most cases, companies cannot share biometric data without a person’s consent.

Since BIPA was enacted, several companies, including Google and YouTube, have faced litigation over the collection of biometric data. 

This John Hancock voiceprint lawsuit investigation alleges that John Hancock did not provide the protections required under BIPA before voiceprints were collected during certain calls.

Case updates

Legal status as of June 2026

• Attorneys are reviewing potential claims involving John Hancock calls, Amazon Connect and alleged voiceprint collection.

This page was last reviewed and updated in June 2026 to reflect the latest case developments.

How unauthorized voiceprint collection can cause harm

Voiceprints are unique biometric identifiers. Unlike a password or PIN, a voiceprint is tied to you and cannot be changed.

Potential concerns associated with the unauthorized collection of biometric information include:

• Loss of Privacy: Consumers may lose control over how their biometric information is collected, stored and used.
• Future Misuse: As voice recognition and artificial intelligence technologies continue to evolve, consumers may be concerned about how biometric information could be used in the future, including for identity theft, financial fraud and more.

Because biometric information is unique and cannot easily be replaced, Illinois lawmakers enacted BIPA to give residents greater control over how that information is collected and used.

Understanding Amazon Connect and how Amazon was involved

Many people who called John Hancock about their insurance products likely did not realize Amazon technology may have been involved in handling those calls.

Amazon Connect is a customer service platform provided by Amazon Web Services. Companies can use this technology to manage customer calls while continuing to interact with customers under their own brand names.

As a result, callers may have believed they were communicating only with John Hancock, even if Amazon technology was being used behind the scenes to help process those calls.

This privacy lawsuit alleges that Amazon Connect was used to collect voiceprints during certain calls with Illinois residents. Because Amazon’s role may not have been apparent to callers, the John Hancock voiceprint lawsuit raises questions about whether consumers were adequately informed about who was collecting their biometric information and how it was being collected and processed.

Amazon’s involvement in biometric privacy lawsuits is not limited to this case. Amazon and Amazon Web Services have previously faced lawsuits alleging violations of Illinois’ BIPA, including claims involving Amazon Connect and Alexa voice technology.

FAQs

Q: Do I need proof that my voiceprint was collected? 

A: No. You do not need to prove your voiceprint was collected before speaking with an attorney. 

Q: What is a voiceprint under Illinois BIPA? 

A: Under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA), a voiceprint is a digital representation of a person’s unique vocal characteristics — including their pitch, cadence and tone — that can be used to identify or verify their identity. BIPA classifies voiceprints as protected biometric identifiers.

Q: Can financial advisors qualify? 

A: Yes. This investigation includes financial advisors and their assistants, as well as John Hancock customers, spouses and account co-holders, if they meet the eligibility requirements.

Q: Is there a John Hancock voiceprint settlement yet? 

A: No. As of June 2026, there is no John Hancock voiceprint settlement. Attorneys are actively investigating potential claims, but no settlement has been announced.

Q: How much could a BIPA lawsuit be worth? 

A: Every case is different, and no financial payout is guaranteed. However, BIPA allows for statutory damages of up to $1,000 per negligent violation and up to $5,000 per reckless or intentional violation.

Fill out the form on this page to see if you qualify for a free case evaluation.