LOS
ANGELES, Aug. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Quandary Peak
Research, a Los Angeles-based
consulting firm specializing in expert analysis of software and
computing technology, contributed to a biometric data privacy
case that resulted in a $1.4 billion
settlement for the State of Texas
against Meta, formerly named Facebook. To aid in establishing that
Meta was improperly collecting biometric information, Quandary Peak
expert Jason Frankovitz performed
source code analysis of the technologies accused of violating
Texas laws.
Plaintiffs McKool Smith, along with Keller Postman and the
Texas Attorney General's Office,
filed the complaint on behalf of Texans who uploaded photographs
onto Meta's social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram.
The suit alleged that Meta used people's personal
photographs to produce facial recognition templates without
adequate consent in violation of Texas' Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier
Act (CUBI).
For months, Frankovitz worked closely with a team of computer
scientists and software engineers, exhaustively poring over Meta's
confidential source code, documenting how the facial recognition
system worked. He traced the code, documented paths of execution,
and briefed the legal team about discoveries relevant to the
language of the statute. The evidence Frankovitz collected was
essential in explaining how the system operated; evidence which
often provides state agencies powerful leverage in settlement
negotiations.
The CUBI law is similar to Illinois' Biometric Information Privacy Act
(BIPA), which also requires consent before facial recognition can
be legally performed. Notably, Frankovitz and other software
experts at Quandary Peak worked on BIPA cases prior to their
engagement with the Texas Attorney
General's Office.
Jason Frankovitz, Director of
Software Class Actions, joined Quandary Peak in 2014 and has
testified in numerous trials since then. His background in
server-side application development and expertise in mobile/web
technologies were valuable assets during the case. While his
considerable experience spans various areas, his work at Quandary
Peak often draws heavily on his expertise in web applications,
Internet technologies, open-source software, and best practices in
software development.
About Quandary Peak Research
Quandary Peak Research
provides expert analysis of complex technology to companies, law
firms, and investors. Clients leverage Quandary Peak's expertise in
computer and software technology for various types of civil
litigation, including cases alleging patent infringement, copyright
infringement, trade secret misappropriation, and breach of
contract. Software experts at Quandary Peak perform source code
analysis, technical due diligence, software quality audits, and
forensic investigations. Quandary Peak experts also testify as
expert witnesses at hearings and trials in U.S. District Court,
state courts, the International Trade Commission (ITC), the U.S.
Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and other venues.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Jeremiah Deasey
Manager of
Digital Marketing, Media, and Brand
jeremiah@quandarypeak.com
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SOURCE Quandary Peak Research