Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an investigation into Meta's Meta AI Glasses over allegations of unlawful facial biometric data collection, deceptive privacy practices, and unauthorized sharing of user data with subcontractors. The investigation follows concerns that the glasses' always-on recording mode lacks proper user notice, planned facial recognition features would collect data without consent, and private user videos are accessed by third-party annotators in Kenya. The AG issued a Civil Investigative Demand to Meta to determine violations of Texas privacy laws.
In-house legal teams should review all vendor agreements with smart device manufacturers, AI technology providers, and data subcontractors to ensure explicit prohibitions on unauthorized sharing of user data, including biometric information like facial geometry, and require strict access controls for third-party annotators. Customer-facing smart device agreements must be updated to disclose always-on data processing capabilities, clearly explain recording indicator functionality (including when indicators are inactive), and align with all privacy-focused marketing claims to avoid deceptive practice allegations. Additionally, all relevant agreements should include clauses requiring blurring of biometric data (e.g., faces in user videos), mandatory user consent for facial recognition features, and audit rights to verify compliance with privacy representations.
Entity
Meta (formerly known as Facebook)
Industry
Technology"Attorney General Ken Paxton Launches Investigation Into Meta Glasses to Protect Texans’ Privacy From Unlawful Monitoring and Collection of Facial Data"
"May 20, 2026"
"Attorney General Ken Paxton"
"launched an investigation into Meta’s Meta AI Glasses"
"Meta (formerly known as Facebook)"
"in violation of Texas law"
$1.4B
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton secured a $1.4 billion settlement with Meta over the company’s decade-long unauthorized capture of Texans’ facial geometry via its Tag Suggestions feature, which used facial recognition software without providing notice or obtaining informed consent. The practices violated Texas’s Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act (CUBI) and Deceptive Trade Practices Act, as Meta automatically enabled the feature for all Texans without explaining its functionality or seeking permission. This is the largest privacy settlement ever obtained by a single state attorney general, with Meta required to pay the penalty over five years and cease the unlawful biometric data practices.
$3.0M
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a settlement requiring Temu to protect Texans’ sensitive personal data from exposure to the Chinese Communist Party and to strengthen product-safety practices. Temu must pay Texas $3 million, comply with data-security requirements backed by a potential $8 million annual penalty, conduct annual independent product testing, and take specified action on products found to contain harmful substances.
$773.0M
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that a multistate coalition had secured an opioid settlement with Albertsons, which would require the grocery chain to pay more than $773 million nationally once final. Texas and its political subdivisions may receive up to $57.8 million for opioid abatement; the release does not identify privacy violations.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Gerber Products Company and Nestlé USA, Inc., alleging that Gerber made deceptive safety and testing claims while its baby food contained dangerous levels of toxic heavy metals. The lawsuit asserts claims under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act; the release does not report a settlement, monetary penalty, or court order.
$1.5M
The Texas Attorney General obtained a judgment holding Rubinsky Roofing LLC liable for 27 violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, including deceptive practices involving older consumers and payment for unnecessary or unfinished repairs. The judgment requires more than $1.5 million in civil penalties, allocates at least $500,000 to consumer restitution, and permanently bars the company and its owner from the practices at issue.
The Texas Attorney General opened an investigation into UnitedHealth Group over allegations that its insurance-benefit administration and patient-care decisions denied Texans medically necessary healthcare. The AG issued Civil Investigative Demands to collect evidence; the release announces no penalty or remedy.