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An Illinois resident has hit Universal Orlando with a class action lawsuit alleging the theme park violates state residents’ rights when it comes to collecting their biometric information.
Lead plaintiff Jack Yozze alleges that Illinois residents are required to provide and use their fingerprints to enter the Universal Studios Florida theme park.
Yozze says that he had no idea that he would be required to provide his fingerprint when he bought nonrefundable tickets to the theme park and there was no other way to obtain entrance.
“Using biometric-enabled devices and technology, Defendant knowingly and intentionally captures, collects, stores, and otherwise uses the biometrics of its customers seeking entry into Universal Orlando,” alleges the Universal Studios class action lawsuit.
“Critically, Defendant knowingly handles the biometrics of its Illinois customers without their informed written consent as required by BIPA, in order to control and track their access to Universal Orlando.”
According to the Universal Orlando class action, Yozze and other Illinois residents’ biometric information is protected by the Biometric Information Privacy Act.
Under the state law, those obtaining and/or using Illinois residents’ biometric information, including finger or hand prints, are required to meet a number of criteria, including;
- Disclosing in writing that biometric information will be collected, along with how long it will be stored;
- Obtaining a written release from the Illinois resident allowing the collection and storage of their information;
- Publishing retention and destruction guidelines for the biometric information collected and stored.
“Defendant’s biometric system works by extracting biometric information from its customers’ fingerprints, or portions thereof, and subsequently storing and repeatedly using the same for authentication and park access,” notes the Universal Orlando class action lawsuit. “Defendant also associates customers’ biometrics, i.e. fingerprints, with other personally identifiable information, including state identification cards.”
The plaintiff contends that Universal Orlando knows that it is collecting the biometric information of Illinois residents. Yozze says that he was required to show his state identification along with his fingerprint upon entrance to the park.
Further, claims the Universal Studios class action lawsuit, the plaintiff and other Illinois residents are not provided the appropriate disclosures when they are required to provide their fingerprints at Universal Orlando.
The Universal Orlando class action lawsuit seeks to represent a Class of Illinois residents whose biometric information, including all or part of their fingerprints, was collected, used, and/or stored by the theme park.
The plaintiff is seeking statutory damages of $1,000 per violation on behalf of himself and the proposed Class Members, along with a court order stopping Universal Orlando from allegedly violating Illinois state law by collecting fingerprints from Illinois residents.
Yozze and the proposed Class are represented by Myles McGuire and Jad Sheikali of McGuire Law PC.
The Universal Orlando Class Action Lawsuit is Yozze, et al. v. Universal Parks & Resorts Management Services LLC, Case No. 2019-CH-06366, in Cook County Circuit Court, Illinois.
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79 thoughts onUniversal Orlando Class Action Says Visitor Fingerprints Collected Illegally
I was just recently at Universal Orlanda and asked the other 4 adults that accompanied me to a 5-year-old birthday celebration. If any of them had knowledge that Universal Orlanda needed fingerprint before entry into the studio. No one of them had knowledge that the Universal Studio collected biometrics. No one knew? I tried to find it by quick glance if this was something that was part of the do’s and don’ts of the park. I did not find. I could have overlooked but felt as if this should have been part of a red print warning up front giving you an option in order to do the biometric or have another choice. I live in the state of Illinois and know that a few lawsuits have been filed and won for residents of the state because of the violation of illegally obtained biometrics. I never consented at all to it before being told to “scan my finger” while in a line to get into the theme park and that was the only option given to me. I would have opted out but had no clear knowledge of another choice. I hate to read reviews but maybe this would have been the best thing to do.
Hello i have visited the Disney parks and universal parks in the last couple years and i do remember they did the finger prints i am an Illinois resident my me and my wife and 2 kids
Please add me! My husband and myself questioned this policy… But, we already paid the fairly steep admission fee. I’m not sure we ever got a straight answer!