This clear AI class action settlement is open until December 27: are you eligible?

If you are California residentyou may be eligible to receive payment from a $27.5 million settlement with Thomson Reuters, but the opt-in window 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 news channel Reuters. In October, the company reached an agreement to settle a class-action lawsuit that alleged it used its own AI program Clear to collect personal information from people without their consent and then sold that information to various entities. Although the company was accused of doing this all over the US, this particular suit only applies to California residents.

The results of the study published by International Association of Personal Data Protection Professionals (IAPP) in 2023 Consumer Confidence Report. found significant concern among respondents worldwide about the impact of AI technology on their privacy. About 57% of consumers surveyed by IAPP said that “AI poses a significant threat to their privacy.” The group also cited 2023 survey by KPMG and the University of Queensland, which found that 53% of respondents believed that “AI will make it harder for people to keep their personal information private.”

If you think you’re eligible for this Thomson Reuters deal, read all the details. For more on other class action settlements, find out if you are eligible for the 23andMe data breach agreement.

Why the Thomson Reuters Class Action Settlement?

Thomson Reuters was originally sued in 2020. by California-based 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.” That information, the lawsuit alleges, was then sold to “corporations, law enforcement and government agencies.”

Who is eligible for this class action settlement?

This agreement is open to anyone who was an adult resident of California as of December 3, 2016. until October 31, 2024 The payout for each claimant is estimated at $19-$48.

You can choose this arrangement from by completing this online form.

When is the deadline to opt into this class action settlement?

Eligible claimants have until the end of Friday, December 27, 2024, to opt into the Thomson Reuters settlement. That 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 by delays due to privacy concerns.