If you are resident of Californiayou may be eligible to receive pay from the $27.5 million Thomson Reuters settlement, but the window to opt in closes at the end of next week.
Thomson Reuters is a Canadian media and technology conglomerate best known as the parent company of the British media outlet Reuters. In October, the company reached a settlement agreement in a class-action lawsuit alleging that it used its own artificial intelligence program, Clear, to collect personal information from people without their consent and then sold that information to various entities. While the company has been accused of doing this across the US, this specific suit only applies to California residents.
Research results published by The International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) in its 2023 Consumer Confidence Report found significant concern among respondents globally about the impact of AI technology for their privacy. About 57% of consumers surveyed by IAPP said they “pose a significant threat to their privacy.” The group also quoted 2023 study by KPMG and the University of Queensland, which found that 53% of respondents believed that “You will make it harder for people to keep their personal information private”.
If you think you might be eligible for this Thomson Reuters settlement, read on for all the details. For more on other class action settlements, find out if you are eligible for 23andMe's data breach settlement.
Why the Thomson Reuters Class Action Settlement?
Thomson Reuters was originally sued in 2020 by California activist Kat Brooks and journalist Rashid Shabazz. The couple accused the company of using Clear to collect “vast amounts of photos, identifying information and personal data of US consumers, including Californians, without their consent.” This information, the lawsuit further states, was then sold to “corporations, law enforcement and government agencies.”
Who qualifies for this class action?
This settlement is open to anyone who was an adult resident of California from December 3, 2016 through October 31, 2024. The payout for each claimant is estimated at $19-$48.
You can join this settlement until filling out this online form.
When is the deadline to join this group settlement?
Eligible applicants have until the end of Friday, December 27, 2024, to decide on the Thomson Reuters settlement. This deadline was originally set for December 6, but was later extended.
For more, see why Apple claims AI will improve its privacy offerings while Microsoft's AI tools have been hit with delays due to privacy concerns.