THE WHAT? Johnson & Johnson’s former consumer subsidiary has agreed to settle a class action accusing it of secretly storing facial scans from users of the Neutrogena Skin360 app, closing a high-profile biometric privacy case in federal court.
THE DETAILS The settlement, which led U.S. District Judge Michael Shipp to order the case closed within 60 days, ends two years of litigation without a trial. Filed in Illinois in 2022, the lawsuit alleged that the app collected and stored biometric identifiers—such as facial scans—linked to users’ personal details without informed consent, in violation of the state’s Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). The Neutrogena Skin360 app used AI-driven facial analysis to provide personalized skincare assessments and product recommendations, but its data practices drew scrutiny under one of the strictest biometric privacy laws in the U.S. Terms of the settlement remain confidential.
THE WHY? This resolution highlights rising regulatory and legal risks for beauty and personal care companies deploying AI-driven diagnostic tools. As consumer-facing apps increasingly rely on biometric data, compliance with privacy legislation such as Illinois’ BIPA will be critical to avoiding costly litigation and reputational fallout.
Source: USA Herald
