Google is being sued for allegedly planting secret cookies on 5.4 million iPhone users
A campaigning group is suing Google on behalf of 5.4 million people over allegations that the company harvested personal information from iPhone users.
SEE ALSO:Google's trying to make your job search less difficult"Google You Owe Us", led by ex-Which?director Richard Lloyd, claims Google illegally collected personal data from 5.4 million individuals in the UK between June 2011 and February 2012.
Using the so-called "Safari Workaround," Google allegedly placed cookies that tracked iPhones' internet browsing history, which the company then used to sell ads.
Tweet may have been deleted
The group believes those affected are eligible for compensation for violation of trust.
Lloyd told the FT he expected each claimant to receive "several hundred pounds" should the case be successful.
The lawsuit is a type of collective action called "representative action," meaning the claim is brought on by one individual on behalf of those affected, who can opt out if they want (the group's FAQ section includes a link to a form for people who do not wish to be part of the claim).
"Those affected do not have to pay any legal fees, conduct any research or (at this stage) contact any lawyers," the group said in a statement. "They are already part of the claim and will be updated on the progress of the claim through the website and social media."
A court date is expected to be set for early spring 2018. It's the first representative action of this kind in the UK against a major tech company that is centred on the alleged mass misuse of personal data, according to FT.
Lloyd said:
“I believe that what Google did was quite simply against the law. Their actions have affected millions, and we’ll be asking the courts to remedy this major breach of trust.
Through this action, we will send a strong message to Google and other tech giants in Silicon Valley that we’re not afraid to fight back if our laws are broken.
In all my years speaking up for consumers, I’ve rarely seen such a massive abuse of trust where so many people have no way to seek redress on their own. That’s why I’ve taken on one of the biggest fights of my life in representing this legal action, which is the first case of its kind in the UK against a major tech company for misusing our valuable personal data.
I want to spread the word about our claim. Google owes all of those affected fairness, trust and money. By joining together, we can show Google that they can’t get away with taking our data without our consent, and that no matter how large and powerful they are, nobody is above the law.”
Google said in a statement: "This is not new -- we have defended similar cases before. We don't believe it has any merit and we will contest it."
Featured Video For You
This wooden block will charge your phone
下一篇:World's first green ammonia plant is now open for business
- ·Cheap heat
- ·第七届新农人节精彩瞬间
- ·用爱浇灌成长,恤孤助学会“爱童行”志愿者回访信宜受助学生
- ·外逃八载度日如年 民警规劝投案自首
- ·NASA's new plan keeps Starliner astronauts in space until 2025
- ·明天,这场海选“有点甜”丨2023广东乡村歌手大赛
- ·广宁:“三新”技术节本增效,富锌农产品质优价好
- ·宝兴县“快乐英语学堂”开班啦!
- ·iPhone 16 Pro new color will reportedly be Desert Titanium
- ·台风“苏拉”将至!广东发布防御提醒
- ·省第七届老年人运动会柔力球比赛在雅开赛
- ·预制菜保鲜困境怎么“破局”?锁定顺德这场科技研讨会
- ·Yoon, US Senate's armed service committee chief discuss alliance, N.K. threats
- ·东莞队勇夺畜禽产品定量检测方向第一!广东农安技能竞赛顺利落幕
- ·芦山县公安局民警收缴一批赌博机
- ·雨城工商助力争创省级文明城市
- ·The Measurers
- ·东莞队勇夺畜禽产品定量检测方向第一!广东农安技能竞赛顺利落幕
- ·市供销社系统职工运动会闭幕
- ·跻身国际化区域性生态城市建设前列
- ·Sports minister says audits into football, badminton federations set to conclude in Sept.
- ·好消息!广东省28个农产品入选第二批全国名特优新农产品名录
- ·最高补助1亿元!深圳真金白银支持现代农业高质量发展
- ·广东金鲳鱼品牌推介活动重庆场回顾
- ·Cyrix: Gone But Not Forgotten
- ·快评丨广东海鲜“游”进巴蜀,意义不止于市场开拓
- ·Black Friday GPU Buying Guide: November GPU Pricing Update
- ·优化硬件设施 完善渠道建设
- ·强行冲关 疯狂飙车 逃费司机被拘又受罚
- ·最高补助1亿元!深圳真金白银支持现代农业高质量发展
- ·Amazon Android Days sale 2024: Save on unlocked phones, tablets, and more
- ·立足生态 发展旅游 助推“山水芦山、文化芦山”建设
- ·跻身国际化区域性生态城市建设前列
- ·跻身国际化区域性生态城市建设前列
- ·PCB official under probe for conflict of interest
- ·大货车迎面撞电杆消防官兵成功营救