A multi-billion-dollar class-action lawsuit accusing Apple Photos of violating Illinois' Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) has been greenlit by a judge. The lawsuit, which could cost Apple up to $32.5 billion, centers on the "People" feature within Apple Photos.

Filed in March 2020, the case alleges Apple violated BIPA, a law that grants Illinois citizens control over their biometric information by requiring notice and consent for collection. BIPA allows for $1,000 in damages per negligent violation and $5,000 per intentional or reckless violation. This mirrors previous BIPA-related settlements, including a $650 million settlement with Meta over Facebook's facial-recognition system.

After years of legal back-and-forth, the court granted class certification in June, potentially representing approximately 6.5 million Illinois residents across three proposed classes. The case will now proceed to the district court, where plaintiffs must prove Apple violated BIPA before any damages are awarded. Apple's request for an immediate appeal of the certification order was denied.