Mitch Martin Talks About Changes to Illinois’ BIPA Laws

Illinois’ Biometric Privacy Law Gets a ‘Business Friendly’ Makeover, Says Attorney

So, listen folks, here’s the scoop. Our pal Mitch Martin, an attorney at Spencer Fane, was dishing out some hot takes in a St. Louis Business Journal article. He’s saying that Illinois’ updated Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) is supposedly becoming more "business friendly," thanks to an amendment put through by Governor J.B. Pritzker. But before you even think it’s all sunshine and roses for businesses, Mitch’s got some interesting insights to share.

Illinois’ BIPA: Not Exactly a Cakewalk for Businesses

The update to BIPA, which kicked in on August 2, shifts from per-violation to per-person compensation limits. Sounds good for businesses, right? Well, Mitch tells us it might not drastically cut down on these class-action suits in Illinois, especially if you’re wrangling with, say, thousands of plaintiffs. "The amendment is business-friendly, but the statute itself is not, by any measure, business-friendly," Mitch made clear. So, don’t break out the confetti just yet.

What Kicked Off This Conversation?

This whole discussion with the St. Louis Business Journal was actually sparked by Mitch’s Spencer Fane blog, co-authored by his colleague, Jeremy Rucker. Their blog, “Billion-Dollar Biometric Bust: Meta Reaches Largest AG Settlement in History – $1.4 Billion – for Alleged Violations of Texas Biometric Privacy Law”, is a riveting read. It breaks down how Texas’ Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act (CUBI) made waves with Meta coughing up a record-setting $1.4 billion in a settlement. This is the future, folks—think big, think biometric.

Meet Mitch Martin: The Man of the Hour

At Spencer Fane, Mitch Martin represents outfits from mom-and-pop shops to big corporations. His gig? Making sure these businesses don’t step into any legal landmines when it comes to privacy laws, AI, biometric data—you name it. This guy has been in the trenches for over a decade, duking it out in multi-million dollar commercial disputes and keeping an eye on consumer class actions, especially those claiming privacy violations.

What’s the Bigger Picture Here?

The idea that Illinois’ BIPA is “the most infamous and punitive” privacy statute, wasn’t just thrown around for fun. For 16 years, BIPA has been something businesses really had to watch out for. With the landscape of biometric privacy evolving, Mitch and other legal behemoths are keeping tabs on these changes and how they ripple through the business world.

You Gotta Read More

Curious to dig deeper into this? Check out the full article in the St. Louis Business Journal (but heads up, you’ll need a subscription). For the full breakdown from Mitch and Jeremy, hit up their blog on Spencer Fane’s website.

Quick Summary Table

So there you have it. The landscape of biometric privacy laws is shifting, but businesses still have their work cut out for them. Mitch Martin and his crew at Spencer Fane are the folks you want in your corner navigating this brave new world.

Stay sharp, stay informed. Because in this city, knowledge is power.