Fleet technology provider Samsara Inc. has agreed to a $3.95 million settlement in a class action lawsuit alleging it violated Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) through the use of its dual-facing dash cameras. The settlement resolves claims that the company collected and stored biometric data from drivers without first obtaining informed consent or providing required disclosures.
Who Is Eligible for the Settlement
The settlement defines two groups of eligible participants. The first includes individuals who operated vehicles equipped with Samsara dual-facing dash cameras within the state of Illinois between December 16, 2016, and June 12, 2025. The second covers Illinois residents who operated such vehicles outside of Illinois during the same time period. Both employees and independent contractors are eligible, provided they drove vehicles outfitted with the specified camera systems.
Class members may choose from two benefit options. The first is a pro rata cash payment, the amount of which will depend on the total number of valid claims submitted. The second is one year of complimentary Privacy Shield protection, a service designed to help monitor and manage personal data privacy. Claimants may opt to receive both benefits if desired.
Growing Legal Pressure on Biometric Tech
This case is part of a broader wave of litigation targeting alleged BIPA violations in Illinois. Notable recent examples include Google’s $8.75 million settlement over biometric data collected through education services and Saint Anthony Hospital’s $1.46 million settlement involving employee fingerprint scans.
The Samsara case also reflects mounting privacy concerns in the transportation industry. Similar issues were raised in a class action lawsuit against Omnitracs, which alleged that driver-monitoring cameras collected facial scans without proper consent.
Illinois’ BIPA law is widely considered the most rigorous biometric privacy statute in the United States. It requires companies to obtain written consent before collecting biometric identifiers such as fingerprints or facial templates and to implement clear policies for data retention and destruction. Violations of the law can result in statutory damages ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 per incident.
While Samsara has agreed to the settlement terms, the company has denied any wrongdoing. The court has not made a determination on the merits of the claims.
Source: ClaimDepot
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By Ji-seo Kim
