Google accused of illegal collection of user data using artificial intelligence technologies

The Texas authorities have accused the tech giant Google of illegally collecting and using users' biometric data, which violates the state’s law on the use of personal data. The situation was reported by Engadget.

According to the Texas prosecutor’s office, Google’s Photos and Assistant programs scanned and stored information about users' faces and voices without their consent. It is believed that the company used the collected data for commercial gain by training artificial intelligence algorithms.

«I will fight big tech companies to ensure the privacy and security of all Texans. Google’s indiscriminate collection of users' personal information, including highly sensitive information like biometric identifiers, is unacceptable,» said Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Google responded to these accusations, explaining that the Texas prosecutor’s office misinterprets the company’s activities. «Photos helps to organize people’s photos by grouping similar personalities to make it easier to find old pictures. This is visible only to users, and the feature can be easily disabled ,» Google representatives emphasized.

The company also stated that it is ready to defend its case in court. Under US law, Google faces a fine of $ 25,000 for each proven violation.

In case of violations in the use of artificial intelligence and technological inventions, Europe also knows how to deal with it — the European Commission has proposed new rules to facilitate lawsuits against manufacturers of AI-based products. According to the draft law, victims will be able to claim compensation for damage to health, privacy, and property caused by manufacturers or suppliers of such technologies. The new rules also provide for liability for discrimination in the hiring process using technological algorithms.