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Par-A-Dice Casino paying out settlement to end facial recognition data lawsuit

Patrons at the Par-A-Dice Casino could be eligible for a slice of a class action settlement if they were captured by certain facial recognition security cameras.

People who passed by certain security cameras at PAD's Sportsbook at the East Peoria casino between September 2020 and June 2021 are included in the $825,000 settlement of a lawsuit alleging the casino violated the state's Biometric Information Privacy Act.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit say Par-A-Dice used the cameras to collect, store, and use unique facial recognition data in violation of the state's BIPA law. Illinois has what is perhaps the broadest biometric information privacy law in the country. Companies such as Facebook and Snapchat also have settled claims they violated the law.

The casino denies any wrongdoing, but said it will agree to the settlement to avoid any further legal expenses. The Tazewell County circuit court has preliminarily approved the settlement.

Claims must be made by Feb. 6.

Tim is the News Director at WCBU Peoria Public Radio.