Ongoing Litigation
Public case information · Last updated

Apple Photos Facial Recognition Biometric Privacy Class Action

Apple · Apple Photos app and People feature

Plaintiffs allege that Apple's Photos app automatically created and stored facial geometry representations, or faceprints, from images without the notice and written consent required by Illinois's Biometric Information Privacy Act. The district court certified three classes in June 2026, and the Seventh Circuit denied Apple's request for an immediate appeal of that certification, so the matter is ongoing and proceeding toward trial preparation.

Settlement Claim

The court-certified classes cover Illinois citizens whose Apple device placed a photograph of that person into a People album; an iCloud subclass covers qualifying users with iCloud photo storage enabled; and an iCloud Faceprint Subclass covers qualifying users with supported operating systems, at least 10 GB of iCloud photo storage, and at least 5,000 photos or videos in the library during the specified period.

Case status
Ongoing Litigation
Claim status
Unknown

Case facts

Case status
Ongoing Litigation
Company
Apple
Product or service
Apple Photos app and People feature
Docket / case number
3:20-CV-421-NJR

What the lawsuit alleges

Plaintiffs allege that Apple's Photos app automatically created and stored facial geometry representations, or faceprints, from images without the notice and written consent required by Illinois's Biometric Information Privacy Act. The district court certified three classes in June 2026, and the Seventh Circuit denied Apple's request for an immediate appeal of that certification, so the matter is ongoing and proceeding toward trial preparation.

These are allegations reported in the case materials and have not been proven in court.

What you can do now

Follow meaningful case developments

Get email updates about meaningful changes to this case.

Document your experience

File a report about your experience. Receipts and supporting evidence are optional.

A Class Action Signal report is not a lawsuit, settlement claim, or government complaint, and it does not preserve a legal deadline.

Participation information

Settlement Claim

The court-certified classes cover Illinois citizens whose Apple device placed a photograph of that person into a People album; an iCloud subclass covers qualifying users with iCloud photo storage enabled; and an iCloud Faceprint Subclass covers qualifying users with supported operating systems, at least 10 GB of iCloud photo storage, and at least 5,000 photos or videos in the library during the specified period.

Type
Settlement Claim
Claim status
Unknown

Sources and links

Apple Illinois Biometric Data Privacy LawsuitYahoo! Finance · Published
Apple Photos Facial-Recognition Biometric Privacy LitigationTechRepublic · Published
Apple Photos Facial-Recognition Data Class ActionCult of Mac · Published
Apple Photos Facial Recognition Biometric Privacy Class ActionThe Mac Observer · Published
Illinois Biometric Privacy Class Action Concerning Apple PhotosThe Daily Hodl · Published
Apple Photos Facial Recognition BIPA Class ActionAndroid Headlines · Published
Apple Photos Biometric Privacy Class Action9to5Mac · Published