Facebook pays $650 million to settle Illinois class-action suit that alleged illegal data collection

Facebook has settled a class-action lawsuit to the tune of $650 million over accusations that it illegally mined the biometric data of users in Illinois in violation of that state's laws. 

A class-action litigation website focused on the case states that "Facebook users located in Illinois for whom Facebook created and stored a face template after June 7, 2011" may be entitled to up to $400 under the settlement.

The company was accused of violating the state's Biometric Information Privacy Act when it allegedly "collected and stored the biometric data of Facebook users in Illinois without the proper notice and consent" required by the statute. 

In addition to the monetary sums, the settlement dictates that Facebook "turn 'off' the Facial Recognition setting and delete face templates for most Class Members unless they turn it back 'on'." 

Respondents have until late November to claim the settlement sum.