Unlawful Data Sharing Allegation Against Apple: iTunes Listening Data Reportedly Shared Intentionally in a Class-Action Lawsuit
Apple Faces Class-Action Lawsuit Over Alleged Unlawful Sharing of iTunes Listening Data
A class-action lawsuit has been brought against Apple, alleging that the tech giant is disclosing iTunes listening data to third parties, reportedly in violation of state privacy laws. The lawsuit, filed by three individuals from Rhode Island and Michigan in a California district court, names at least two marketing entities that allegedly sell lists of consumers' personal listening information.
According to the lawsuit, Apple did not address the issue of sharing user listening data with third parties until the release of iOS 10, approximately eight months later. The suit claims that detailed user listening data was shared via Apple's developers tools without first obtaining permission from customers. Many of these third parties, the suit alleges, have re-disclosed the personal listening information to other third parties for further exploitation and monetization without prior notice or consent.
The price for such a list, as an example, is reported to be approximately $136 per thousand customers listed. The lawsuit seeks $250 each for those Apple customers in Rhode Island and $5,000 each for those in Michigan.
The lawsuit further alleges that these disclosures of Personal Listening Information are unlawful and dangerous for allowing the targeting of vulnerable members of society. The suit points to marketing entities as apparent proof of the allegation, stating that lists of specific customer demographics are available for sale.
Apple did not immediately return a request for comment regarding the class-action lawsuit.
It's important to note that while Apple has a history of privacy scrutiny around Siri audio recordings, there is no current evidence from the search results that Apple is under investigation or lawsuit for unlawfully sharing iTunes listening data with third parties or violating state privacy laws on that specific issue.
However, in 2019, an Apple contractor revealed that Apple recorded and stored audio from users without their knowledge, which led to a 2020 apology from Apple, suspension of the program, and a $95 million class action settlement related to Siri privacy violations. This case involved audio recordings related to virtual assistant usage, not specifically iTunes listening data.
The privacy policy excerpt from a third-party service that uses Apple iTunes Services shows that Apple may handle some payment data and that personal data sharing is governed by Apple’s and Stripe’s respective privacy policies—but this does not imply unlawful disclosure of iTunes listening habits.
Recent litigation involving smart devices tends to focus more on Amazon Alexa’s alleged secret recordings rather than Apple’s iTunes data.
The full details of the class-action lawsuit against Apple are yet to be disclosed, and the case is expected to unfold in the coming months.
- The class-action lawsuit against Apple extends beyond general news, involving allegations of unlawful sharing of iTunes listening data, which is a concern in the realm of technology and data-and-cloud-computing.
- In addition to marketing entities, it is alleged that third parties have exploited and monetized the personal listening information, raising questions about the future privacy standards in tech.
- The lawsuit is significant not only for Rhode Island and Michigan residents but also for the general public, as it pertains to crime-and-justice issues related to personal data security.
- As the legal proceedings unfold, it remains to be seen how this case will impact the tech industry's handling of user data, particularly in relation to Apple's iTunes Services.
