Facebook Faulted by Judge for ‘Troubling Theme’ in Privacy Case
- Social network is accused of violating Illinois biometrics law
- Judge says company tried to revive already rejected arguments
Photographer: Meg Roussos/Bloomberg
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A judge scolded Facebook Inc. for misconstruing his own rulings as he ordered the company to face a high-stakes trial accusing it of violating user privacy.
The social media giant has misinterpreted prior court orders by continuing to assert the “faulty proposition” that users can’t win their lawsuit under an Illinois biometric privacy law without proving an “actual injury,” U.S. District Judge James Donato said in a ruling Monday. Likewise, the company’s argument that it’s immune from having to pay a minimum of $1,000, and as much as $5,000, for each violation of the law is “not a sound proposition,” he said.