Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act

Fingerprint Scanning on Blue TechnologyThe Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (“BIPA”) went into effect in 2008 and has been a steady source of litigation ever since. This post summarizes the obligations BIPA imposes, the current state of BIPA litigation, and what steps businesses can take to reduce litigation risks.

What is BIPA?

The stated intent of BIPA was to address the heightened risk of identity theft associated with the processing of biometric data. The legislator’s findings state that, “unlike other unique identifiers that are used to access finances or other sensitive information,” when biologically unique data is compromised, “the individual has no recourse” because the individual cannot change these identifiers.
Continue Reading The Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (“BIPA”): When Will Companies Heed the Warning Signs?