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Articles By Harrison Barnes From BCG Attorney Search
AI voice data lawsuits in Illinois are putting the state’s privacy law to the test. Nine technology companies face proposed class actions in federal court in Chicago.
The lawsuits accuse the companies of using recorded voices without consent. The recordings were allegedly used to develop or train AI systems.
At the center of the cases is Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act, or BIPA. The lawsuits could show how the law applies to AI voice data. They could also affect lawyers who handle privacy and class-action cases.
Key Takeaways
Nine class actions target major technology companies.
The cases involve voice data allegedly used for AI.
The plaintiffs rely on Illinois’ BIPA law.
They say companies used voiceprints without proper consent.
However, the defendants dispute the claims.
The cases could shape future AI privacy lawsuits.
As a result, AI and privacy lawyers could see more work.
Nine AI Voice Data Lawsuits Filed
The lawsuits were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in May 2026.
Each case targets a different technology company.
The defendants include Adobe, Alphabet/Google, Amazon, Apple, ElevenLabs, Meta, Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Samsung. Meanwhile, Chicago law firm Loevy + Loevy represents the plaintiffs.
The plaintiffs include journalists and other professional voice users. They include Carol Marin, Phil Rogers, Robin Amer, Yohance Lacour, Alison Flowers, Lindsay Dorcus, and Victoria Nassif.
According to the complaints, the companies obtained voice recordings from podcasts, broadcasts, YouTube videos, and audiobooks.
The plaintiffs say the companies then extracted voiceprints from those recordings. They claim the voiceprints were used in AI voice models.
However, these are allegations. The courts have not found that the companies broke the law.
What the Plaintiffs Say Happened
The main issue is the difference between a voice recording and a voiceprint.
A recording contains a person’s spoken words. However, an AI system can also study features of that person’s voice.
Those features may help identify or copy a speaker’s voice.
The plaintiffs argue that this process creates biometric information. They say BIPA protects that information.
Therefore, they argue that the companies should have given notice and received written consent before using the voiceprints.
The complaints also raise questions about how the companies handled the data. BIPA sets rules for the collection, storage, and sharing of certain biometric information.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages and other relief.
Because the cases seek class-action status, the damages could be large if the lawsuits move forward.
Why Illinois BIPA Matters
What Is BIPA?
Illinois enacted the Biometric Information Privacy Act in 2008.
The law sets rules for collecting, storing, and sharing certain biometric information. It also gives people the right to bring lawsuits.
BIPA has already led to major cases involving facial recognition and fingerprints.
It has also been used in cases involving employee timekeeping systems and other biometric tools.
Now, plaintiffs are using BIPA in a new area: AI voice technology.
That could make the cases important.
AI companies use human speech in many products. For example, these products include voice assistants, text-to-speech tools, automated narration, and dubbing systems.
As a result, courts may need to decide how older privacy laws apply to new AI tools.
AI Voice Cases Take a New Path
Many AI lawsuits focus on copyright.
For example, authors and other creators have sued AI companies over the use of copyrighted works in AI training.
However, the Illinois voice lawsuits take a different approach.
The Cases Focus on Privacy
The plaintiffs mainly rely on BIPA and other privacy claims.
They also allege violations involving publicity, consumer fraud, and deceptive practices.
This matters because a person’s voice can raise several legal issues.
A recording may contain copyrighted material. In addition, a person’s voice may have business value.
At the same time, an AI system may turn voice features into biometric information.
Therefore, companies that develop voice AI could face several types of legal claims.
Tech Companies Fight the Claims
The defendants dispute the lawsuits.
Several companies say the complaints do not show that they used the recordings to train AI systems.
Apple, for example, argued that making recordings available online does not prove that Apple used them for AI training.
The defendants also question whether BIPA applies when the claimed conduct did not happen in Illinois.
That issue could become important. The recordings were available online, and the companies operate in many states.
Seven Judges Are Handling the Cases
Seven federal judges in Chicago received the nine lawsuits.
Apple has asked the court to move the cases before one judge.
Meanwhile, the defendants have filed motions challenging the claims.
The first court decisions could determine whether the cases continue.
They could also affect whether the lawsuits become larger class actions.
Major Law Firms Join AI Privacy Fight
The cases have attracted several major law firms.
The technology companies have hired attorneys from Gibson Dunn, Greenberg Traurig, Jenner & Block, Latham & Watkins, Morgan Lewis, Quinn Emanuel, and Sidley Austin.
The legal teams have handled privacy cases, class actions, and technology disputes.
Their involvement shows the importance of the cases.
For law firms, the lawsuits also show how AI is creating new legal work.
Loevy + Loevy’s BIPA Experience
The plaintiffs’ lawyers also have experience with BIPA cases.
Loevy + Loevy has handled major biometric privacy lawsuits involving large companies.
Now, the firm is applying that experience to voice technology.
Instead of focusing on fingerprints or facial recognition, these cases focus on voiceprints and AI.
As a result, the lawsuits could help shape a new area of BIPA litigation.
What the Cases Mean for AI Companies
The lawsuits could change how companies collect voice recordings for AI development.
If courts find that BIPA protects certain voiceprints, companies may need to change their data policies.
For example, they could need stronger consent systems. They may also need clearer notices and better data storage rules.
However, the outcome is still uncertain.
The courts must first address the defendants’ challenges.
They may also answer several key questions. Does BIPA apply? What counts as biometric information? Can the plaintiffs bring a class action?
How the Cases Affect Lawyers
The lawsuits show how AI is creating new legal work.
Privacy Lawyers
Privacy lawyers can help companies follow consent and data rules.
They can also advise companies on biometric data and data storage.
AI and Technology Lawyers
Technology lawyers can help companies check legal risks before launching voice AI products.
They may also advise companies on how to collect and use voice data.
Class Action Attorneys
Class action lawyers could face new questions if the cases move forward.
For example, they may need to address class status, evidence, damages, and the size of the groups involved.
Litigation and Regulatory Lawyers
Litigators may handle the court battles.
Meanwhile, lawyers who handle regulations may help companies respond to new AI rules.
For law students and junior attorneys, these cases highlight several useful fields. These include privacy law, AI law, cybersecurity, intellectual property, and litigation.
Recruiters may also see more demand for lawyers who understand both technology and legal work.
AI Training Data Under Legal Fire
The Illinois cases are part of a larger debate over AI training data.
AI models need large amounts of data. However, companies must consider how they obtain and use that data.
A single recording can raise several legal questions.
For example, it may involve copyright. It may also involve privacy, publicity rights, contracts, or consumer protection.
The voice lawsuits show how this area is changing.
In the future, AI cases may involve more than books, photos, and music. They could also involve personal information found in data.
What Happens Next?
The immediate question is whether the lawsuits will survive the defendants’ motions to dismiss.
The court could also decide whether to combine the cases.
Future rulings may clarify how BIPA applies to voiceprints and AI training.
If the cases continue, they could produce important decisions on AI and biometric privacy.
On the other hand, dismissals could limit similar BIPA claims against AI companies.
Either outcome could affect how lawyers advise companies that develop or use voice AI.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Illinois AI voice data lawsuits?
They are nine proposed class actions filed in federal court in Illinois.
The plaintiffs say technology companies collected or used voiceprints without the notice and consent required by Illinois law.
Which companies are being sued over AI voice data?
The defendants include Adobe, Alphabet/Google, Amazon, Apple, ElevenLabs, Meta, Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Samsung.
What is BIPA?
BIPA is Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act.
The law sets rules for collecting, storing, and sharing certain biometric information. It also allows people to bring private lawsuits.
Why are voice recordings relevant to BIPA?
The plaintiffs say companies can extract voiceprints from recordings.
They argue that these voiceprints can qualify as protected biometric information under BIPA.
Are the companies accused of copyright infringement?
The Illinois cases mainly focus on biometric privacy and related state-law claims.
Therefore, they differ from many other AI training lawsuits.
Have the courts ruled that the companies violated BIPA?
No.
The allegations remain disputed. The defendants have challenged the lawsuits.
The courts still must decide whether the claims can proceed.
Why do these cases matter to lawyers?
The lawsuits raise new questions about AI, privacy, biometric data, and class actions.
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