Tech

Texas takes Meta to court over face ID collection data

Published

4 years ago

February 15, 2022

The Texas attorney general is suing Facebook parent Meta claiming it is breaching laws relating to biometric data

Texas attorney general Ken Paxton says the U.S-based tech company has unlawfully collected biometric data of the people of Texas to use for commercial purposes, without their informed consent.

The lawsuit, filed Monday in state district court, claimed Meta has been “storing millions of biometric identifiers” — identified as retina or iris scans, voiceprints, or a record of hand and face geometry — as well as data contained in photos and videos people upload to its services, including Facebook and Instagram.

“Facebook will no longer take advantage of people and their children with the intent to turn a profit at the expense of one’s safety and well-being,”
PAXTON SAID IN A STATEMENT.

Mr Paxton has been going up against America’s biggest tech giants for some time. He earlier launched an investigation of Twitter over its ban of former President Donald Trump.

He has also filed several lawsuits against search engine, Google.

“This is yet another example of Big Tech’s deceitful business practices and it must stop. I will continue to fight for Texans’ privacy and security.”
PAXTON SAID IN A STATEMENT.

The filing of the lawsuit coincided with the first day of early voting in a primary election in Texas, where Paxton faces several GOP challengers in the wake of his top deputies reporting him to the FBI for alleged corruption.

What law has Meta broken?

Under a law imposed in the US state of Texas, companies must obtain “informed consent” from people to use their biometric data.

This means people have to be informed prior to their data being captured and it can only be done if they agree to it.

Such data also cannot be disclosed for anyone else, although there are some exceptions, such as law enforcement subpoenas.

Meta’s response:

In a statement, Meta, which is based at 1 Hacker Way, Melo Park, California, called the lawsuit “without merit”.

Meta stated back in November that it was shutting down its facial recognition programme and deleting its data.

News

Big Tech earnings spark investor unease over AI spending

Investors monitor Big Tech’s AI investments, with Meta thriving while Microsoft and Tesla face uncertainty over growth and returns.

Published

3 days ago

January 30, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Investors monitor Big Tech’s AI investments, with Meta thriving while Microsoft and Tesla face uncertainty over growth and returns.

Investors are reacting sharply to Big Tech earnings this week, sending a clear signal that massive spending must translate into real growth. Markets are becoming less forgiving as companies pour billions into artificial intelligence, data centres and future tech while returns remain uncertain.

Meta has delivered a standout performance, posting a 24 percent jump in revenue for the December quarter, fuelled by AI-powered advertising. The company is doubling down on its strategy, with aggressive investment in AI and infrastructure expected to drive a further 33 percent growth this quarter.

Microsoft and Tesla tell a more cautious story. Microsoft reported only modest growth in its Azure cloud business, raising questions about its exposure to OpenAI, while Tesla plans to double spending on AI and autonomous driving. Analysts warn of a widening gap between bold AI ambitions and what investors expect in returns.

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Tech

Memory shortages and rising prices could persist through 2027

Memory chip supply tight, prices high; Lenovo warns rising costs impact budget devices amid strong PC demand from Windows 11.

Published

6 days ago

January 27, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Memory chip supply tight, prices high; Lenovo warns rising costs impact budget devices amid strong PC demand from Windows 11.

Memory chips critical to consumer electronics and AI data centres remain in tight supply, keeping prices elevated despite production expansion by major players including Samsung and Micron.

Lenovo warns higher memory costs will hit budget devices first, even as PC demand stays strong from Windows 11 upgrades.

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