Biometrics scam

The biometric scam consists of new statutes enacted in Illinois and a few other places that are gold mines to trial attorneys to shake down productive businesses, like the family-owned White Castle hamburger chain.

As reported by Reuters:

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Illinois' highest court ... said companies violate the state's unique biometric privacy law each time they misuse a person's private information, not just the first time, a ruling that could expose businesses to billions of dollars in penalties. ... White Castle System Inc must face claims that it repeatedly scanned fingerprints of nearly 9,500 employees without their consent, which the company says could cost it more than $17 billion.

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White Castle operates 377 locations in 13 states, and has annual revenue of perhaps $750 million. But it is potentially being sued for billions of dollars because of its ostensibly harmless use of biometric scanners for employees to enhance security. Dems control the Illinois legislature and more businesses and residents have fled Illinois in the last few years than nearly any other state.

White Castle appealed to the Illinois Supreme Court, which ruled by a 4-3 vote entirely in favor of a pro-trial attorneys' absurd, business-looting interpretation of biometric statute there in early 2023. "Illinois Supreme Court allows massive damages in biometric privacy cases but says lawmakers should weigh in."

In April 2023, Reuters explained that "Illinois court decisions acknowledge biometric privacy act's damages a potential business killer."