The State of Texas is suing %Google () for allegedly collecting millions of people’s %BiometricIdentifiers , including their facial images and voice prints, without consent.
The lawsuit, which accuses Google of violating a state consumer protection law, accuses the Silicon Valley internet search giant of using products such as Google Photos, Google Assistant, and the Nest Hub home assistant to illegally collect people’s biometric information.
In a written statement, the state’s Attorney General’s Office said: “Google's exploitation of the personal information of Texans for its own commercial interests is a knowing violation of the state's Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act.”
That Texas law includes fines of up to $25,000 per violation, and the lawsuit alleges that millions of people in the southern U.S. state were impacted by Google’s actions.
If found guilty, Google could potentially face a fine that runs into the billions of dollars.
Google’s stock is down 31% this year and trading at $99.97 U.S. per share. The company split its shares on a 20-for-1 basis this past July.