Robinson v. Meta voiceprint CDAFA suit dismissed (2026)
Robinson v. Meta — N.D. Cal. Dismisses California Voiceprint Suit Under the Comprehensive Computer Data Access and Fraud Act, Finding Meta's Terms Authorized Use of Voice Data (September 15, 2026)
United States · Robinson v. Meta Platforms, Inc. (N.D. Cal. Sept. 15, 2026) (order of dismissal; Breyer, J.)
- Status
- Blocked / in litigation
- Applies to
- Meta Platforms (defendant)
- Enforced by
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
A California Facebook and Messenger user, Nicholas Robinson, sued Meta claiming it unlawfully collected 'voiceprints' from his Messenger calls and used them for identification, product improvement and targeted advertising, in violation of California's anti-hacking law. On September 15, 2026, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer dismissed the case, finding Robinson had agreed to Meta's Terms of Service and privacy notices, which disclosed that voice recordings may be used to identify users. The ruling did not decide whether Meta actually creates voiceprints, and it does not affect a separate Illinois biometric privacy (BIPA) suit against Meta that is continuing.
Who is protected: California users of Facebook and Messenger (as alleged)
Legal detail
Robinson v. Meta Platforms (N.D. Cal.), Judge Charles R. Breyer; case number not confirmed in sources opened. CLAIM: California Comprehensive Computer Data Access and Fraud Act (CDAFA), Penal Code § 502(c)(2) — alleged unauthorized collection of voiceprints from Facebook/Messenger users and use for identification, product improvement and targeted advertising. RULING (Sept. 15, 2026): dismissed; plaintiff authorized the data use through the Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and U.S. Regional Privacy Notice disclosing voice recordings 'may be used to identify' users; court rejected arguments that disclosures were scattered, did not use the word 'voiceprint' or lacked specificity; Meta 'did not knowingly and without permission access Robinson's data' (MediaPost). Biometric Update reports dismissal WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND (MediaPost does not address this). NOT DECIDED: whether Meta creates voiceprints; whether general privacy notices satisfy state biometric-consent statutes such as Illinois BIPA. RELATED: a separate BIPA voiceprint suit by Illinois resident Natalie Delgado is pending before Judge Susan Illston (N.D. Cal.), who let principal BIPA claims proceed in Feb. 2024 and denied Meta summary judgment in Aug. 2026 (Biometric Update); not separately indexed here. Filing date not obtained; appeal status unknown.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | United States |
|---|---|
| Level | Federal |
| Citation | Robinson v. Meta Platforms, Inc. (N.D. Cal. Sept. 15, 2026) (order of dismissal; Breyer, J.) |
| Private right of action | Yes, individuals can sue |
| Penalties | None — case dismissed |
| Topics | biometric data · consumer data privacy · consumer protection |
| News report | Meta defeats California voiceprint suit as judge finds data use authorized — Biometric Update |
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