Snapchat biometric privacy $35M class action settlement

Update:

• This class action settlement is paying out $16.36 as of Jan. 23, 2023.

• Congratulations to everyone who filed a claim and got paid!

EDITOR’S NOTE: This content has been sponsored and edited for clarity in collaboration with the sponsor.

Snap Inc. has agreed to a $35 million class action settlement resolving claims certain Snapchat features violate biometric privacy law.

The class consists of Illinois residents who used the “Lenses” and “Filters” Snapchat features from Nov. 17, 2015, to present.

Snapchat is a popular video-sharing app operated by Snap Inc. App users can choose to apply filters and lenses to enhance their videos before sending them privately or sharing them publicly.

However, the platform may violate the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). BIPA requires companies to take certain steps to guard biometric data, including obtaining written consent before collecting such information and providing written guidelines for how the information will be stored and destroyed.

Plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit allege Snap Inc. possesses, collects and discloses biometric data through Snapchat’s lenses and filters, thereby not complying with BIPA.

Under the terms of the Snapchat settlement agreement, class members are eligible to collect a cash payment from the settlement fund after expenses such as attorneys’ fees and administration costs are paid.

Class members who submit a valid and timely claim form can receive a proportionate payment from the settlement fund. No payment estimates are available.

Those who wish to opt out of or object to the Snapchat settlement is Oct. 6, 2022.

A final approval hearing will be held Nov. 17, 2022.

The deadline to file a claim is Nov. 5, 2022.

Who’s Eligible

Illinois residents who used the “Lenses” and “Filters” Snapchat features from Nov. 17, 2015, to present.

Potential Award

Class members who submit a valid and timely claim form can receive a proportionate payment from the settlement fund. No payment estimates are available.

Proof of Purchase

No proof of purchase is applicable. However, class members submitting a claim must provide the following:

• Full legal name
• Snapchat username
• Personal attestation they have lived in Illinois for at least 183 days, or 6 months, during the class period and during that time used Snapchat’s Lenses or Filters features
• One Illinois address at which they resided during the class period

Claim Form

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

11/05/2022

Case Name

Boone, et al. v. Snap Inc., Case No. 2022LA000708 in the Circuit Court of the 18th Judicial Circuit, DuPage County, Illinois

Final Hearing

11/17/2022

Settlement Website

SnapIllinoisBIPASettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Snapchat Privacy Settlement
c/o Administrator
1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210
Philadelphia, PA 19103
info@snapillinoisbipasettlement.com
844-939-4343

Class Counsel

MILBERG COLEMAN BRYSON PHILLIPS GROSSMAN PLLC

Defense Counsel

MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP