$8.75M Illinois Biometric Data Settlement Reached by Google

If you were a student enrolled in an Illinois school and had a Google Workspace for Education or G Suite for Education account with a voice or face model created, or had Voice Match or Face Match enabled between March 26, 2015, and May 15, 2025, you may be eligible to claim between $30 to $100 from a class action settlement. Google LLC has agreed to pay $8.75 million to settle a class action lawsuit accusing the company of collecting and storing the biometric data of Illinois students through its educational platforms without proper consent and in violation of state law.

Who qualifies to file a claim with Google? Students who meet the following criteria are considered class members:

– Enrolled in an Illinois school between March 26, 2015, and May 15, 2025.
– Residents of Illinois during that time frame.
– Had a voice model or face model created or had the Voice Match or Face Match feature enabled in their Google Workspace for Education or G Suite for Education account while enrolled.

Both minors and adults are eligible to file a claim. For minors, a parent or guardian must complete the claim form on their behalf and use the funds for the minor’s benefit only. Each eligible individual may submit only one claim, and duplicate claims will be rejected.

How much can class members expect to receive from the settlement? Each eligible class member who submits a valid claim will receive an equal payment from the net settlement fund. While the estimated payment is between $30 to $100 per claim, the actual amount will depend on the number of valid claims submitted and deductions for court-approved fees and costs.

How can you claim your share of the settlement funds? Class members have the option to file a claim online or download and complete the PDF claim form by mail to the settlement administrator. To be eligible for a payment, class members must submit a claim form by Oct. 16, 2025. Necessary information includes the school name, associated school district, and enrollment dates. Claimants may be asked to provide documentation to verify their claim, such as proof of identity and enrollment during the specified period.

There are various payout options for eligible class members, including direct deposit, Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, prepaid digital MasterCard, or a paper check. The $8.75 million settlement fund will cover costs such as settlement administration, attorneys’ fees, expenses, service awards to class representatives, and payments to eligible class members.

Key dates to remember include the exclusion deadline on Sept. 1, 2025, the final approval hearing on Oct. 14, 2025, and the deadline to file a claim by Oct. 16, 2025. Payments to approved claimants will be distributed within 90 days after final court approval and resolution of any appeals. Google settled the class action lawsuit to avoid the risks and costs of continued litigation, although the company denies all allegations and any liability.