YouTube Face Blur BIPA Settlement 2026, $900 Per Person Approved—Claim Deadline Passed, Payments Coming Soon

A federal judge granted final approval to a $6 million settlement in January 2026 in a class action against YouTube over claims that the video platform unlawfully collected facial biometric data of users in Illinois. After subtracting expenses, claimants can expect to receive around $900 each, with awards sent 30 days after the effective date of the settlement. If you’re wondering whether you qualified or why payments jumped from $200 to $900, here’s what happened with this landmark Illinois biometric privacy case.

What Was The YouTube BIPA Violation?

The lawsuit claimed YouTube and Google violated the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act by capturing and storing users’ biometric information, including facial geometries, through YouTube’s Face Blur without first obtaining the subjects’ written consent and providing required disclosures.

Face Blur is YouTube’s built-in editing tool that uses AI to automatically detect faces in uploaded videos, allowing creators to obscure identities. While the tool is designed to protect privacy, the lawsuit alleged it involved biometric data collection because the underlying technology processed users’ facial data to identify which areas needed to be blurred.

The case was originally filed in the Southern District of Illinois in August 2022 and transferred to the Northern District of California that October. YouTube maintained the tool didn’t generate scans of facial geometry capable of identifying individuals, but agreed to settle to avoid litigation costs.

Why Did Payouts Jump From $200 To $900?

As of preliminary approval, there were an estimated 20,000 class members; however, more than 340,000 claims were filed, indicating a high level of potential fraud. That’s 17 times more claims than expected—clearly, thousands tried gaming the system.

The settlement administrator developed a “robust process for working through a lot of fraudulent claims,” including sending out deficiency notices and evaluating how quickly a claimant responded. The settlement administrator implemented a rigorous process to identify fraudulent claims, ultimately validating 4,501 claimants.

Result? Fewer verified claimants means larger individual payouts. The $6,022,500 settlement pool divided among 4,501 people instead of 20,000 created $900 payments instead of the estimated $200.

Who Was Eligible For The Settlement?

The class includes all residents of the State of Illinois who uploaded a video to YouTube, on which Face Blur was run at any time up to the date of this order.

Three requirements determined eligibility:

• Illinois residency at the time you uploaded videos
• Used YouTube’s Face Blur editing feature on at least one video
• Uploaded during the class period from Face Blur’s launch through preliminary approval in July 2025

Only one claim was permitted per person even if they had multiple YouTube accounts. Duplicate claims triggered fraud reviews.

What You Must Know About BIPA Settlements

How Illinois BIPA Created Billion-Dollar Liability

Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act, enacted in 2008, requires companies to obtain written consent before collecting biometric identifiers like fingerprints, facial scans, or voiceprints. BIPA protects Illinois residents from any private entity operating in Illinois and imposes restrictions on how private entities collect, retain, use, disclose, and destroy an individual’s biometric identifiers and biometric information.

BIPA allows statutory damages of $1,000 per negligent violation and $5,000 per intentional or reckless violation—creating massive exposure when tech companies process millions of users’ data. Similar Illinois biometric cases produced huge settlements: Facebook’s $650 million Illinois BIPA settlement paid users $200-$400 per person, while the Bumble BIPA settlement received final court approval on October 24, 2025, and approved claimants received payments of over $1,400 in August 2025.

Why The Claim Deadline Already Passed

The claim filing deadline was November 30, 2025, with the opt-out/objection deadline of December 9, 2025, and final approval hearing on December 30, 2025. The January 2026 final approval came after all deadlines closed.

If you didn’t file by November 30, 2025, you’re not getting paid—no exceptions, no late claims accepted. Class action settlements have strict deadlines courts won’t extend.

What To Do Next

If You Filed A Valid Claim

Awards will be sent 30 days after the effective date of the settlement. Since final approval happened in January 2026, payments should arrive by late February or early March 2026.

Watch for payment via your selected method: Zelle, PayPal, direct deposit, or paper check. The settlement is overseen by Verita Global. For help, call 888-777-6502 or email [email protected].

If You Missed The Deadline

You cannot file now. The settlement is closed to new claims. However, document your experience for future reference—tech companies face ongoing BIPA litigation.

Monitor similar cases: Google faces an $8.75 million biometric data settlement for Illinois students who used Google Workspace for Education, and Instagram’s $68.5 million Illinois biometric privacy settlement paid users $32.56 each in 2024.

Check Settlement Status

Visit YouTubeFaceBlurBIPASettlement.com for official updates. Contact the settlement administrator at:

• Phone: 888-777-6502
• Email: [email protected]
• Mail: YouTube Biometric Privacy Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 301134, Los Angeles, CA 90030-1134

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still file a claim in January 2026?

No. The claim filing deadline was November 30, 2025. The settlement received final court approval in January 2026 after all claim deadlines passed. Late claims are not accepted.

Why did payments increase from $200 to $900?

The settlement administrator validated 4,501 claimants after implementing a rigorous process to identify fraudulent claims from the over 340,000 claims filed. With fewer verified claimants sharing the $6 million fund, individual payments increased substantially.

When will I receive my payment?

Awards will be sent 30 days after the effective date of the settlement. Expect payments by late February or March 2026, assuming no appeals delay distribution.

What was the BIPA violation?

The lawsuit claimed YouTube and Google collected and stored users’ biometric information, including facial geometries, through YouTube’s Face Blur without first obtaining written consent and providing required disclosures. Illinois law requires explicit consent before collecting biometric data.

Who represented the class?

The plaintiffs are represented by Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP and Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman PLLC. The case is Colombo v. YouTube LLC, et al., Case No. 3:22-cv-06987-JD, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Are there other Google BIPA settlements?

Yes. Google faces an $8.75 million biometric data settlement for Illinois students who used Google Workspace for Education between March 26, 2015 and May 15, 2025. That settlement has different eligibility requirements and deadlines.

What should Illinois residents know about BIPA?

BIPA protects Illinois residents from any private entity operating in Illinois and imposes restrictions on how private entities collect, retain, use, disclose, and destroy biometric identifiers and biometric information. If companies collect your facial data, fingerprints, or voiceprints without written consent, you may have legal claims worth $1,000-$5,000 per violation.

Bottom Line: The YouTube Face Blur BIPA settlement received final court approval in January 2026, with 4,501 verified claimants each receiving approximately $900—more than quadruple the original $200 estimate due to aggressive fraud detection that eliminated 335,000+ fake claims. The November 30, 2025 deadline has passed, and no late claims are accepted. Payments will be distributed 30 days after the settlement’s effective date, expected in late February or March 2026. If you filed a valid claim, watch for payment via your selected method. Illinois residents should remain vigilant about biometric privacy rights under BIPA, which continues producing major settlements against tech companies that collect facial recognition data without proper consent.

Last Updated: February 3, 2026

Disclaimer: This article provides factual information about the YouTube Face Blur BIPA settlement and is not legal advice. For specific legal questions, consult a licensed attorney.

Take Action: Check YouTubeFaceBlurBIPASettlement.com for payment status updates or call 888-777-6502 for claim verification.

Stay informed, stay protected. — AllAboutLawyer.com

About the Author

Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
Her writing blends real legal insight with plain-English explanations, helping readers stay informed and legally aware.
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