Illinois Amends BIPA To Limit Violations And Recovery Under The Act

On August 2, 2024, Governor Pritzker signed Senate Bill 2979 (“SB 2979”) into law, making significant changes to the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (“BIPA”). By way of background, BIPA requires private employers to obtain a written release from employees before collecting their biometric identifiers and biometric information. The potential ramifications for failing to comply with BIPA were extensive for employers: either $1,000.00 for negligent violations of the Act, $5,000.00 for intentional or reckless violations of the Act, or the amount of the actual damages, whichever is greater.