Illinois resident Cesar Padilla reportedly filed a proposed class-action complaint on October 7, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The complaint alleges that Grok extracted and retained facial-geometry data from selfies Padilla uploaded for image-generation requests, without written consent.
What the complaint alleges
Padilla says he uploaded selfies and asked Grok to generate images, including a professional headshot. The complaint alleges that Grok analyzed facial contours and landmarks, including the eyes, nose, mouth, and jaw, and retained biometric data from that processing.
Who the proposed class would cover
The proposed class would include Illinois Grok users who uploaded photos of their faces and asked for face analysis or content based on those photos. The complaint reportedly invokes the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA).
The relief Padilla seeks
Padilla reportedly seeks monetary damages, an injunction barring the collection of Illinois residents’ biometric information, and destruction of data already collected.
