📌 The Lawsuit
Amazon and its ad unit face a class-action lawsuit in California. Plaintiff Felix Kolotinsky alleges the Amazon Ads SDK secretly tracked users. The case, filed on Jan 29, 2025, cites violations of California’s privacy laws. The lawsuit claims Amazon sold data revealing user locations, habits, and affiliations. Amazon has yet to comment.
📍 What Data Was Collected?
The lawsuit alleges Amazon gathered timestamped geolocation data. This data can expose personal details, like home addresses and daily routines. The complaint claims Amazon’s SDK was embedded in apps like Speedtest by Ookla. Users were unaware and had no opt-in or opt-out option. The lawsuit compares Amazon’s actions to illegal wiretapping.
⚖️ Legal Precedent
Similar lawsuits have targeted companies like Google and Meta. The FTC has taken action against data brokers like Mobilewalla for privacy violations. California courts have ruled differently on SDK-related cases. The complaint references past lawsuits, including a case against Twilio over unauthorized data collection.
🔎 What’s Next?
The lawsuit seeks damages and a halt to Amazon’s alleged data collection. If certified as a class action, it could impact privacy regulations. This case highlights weak federal privacy laws in the U.S. Consumers are urged to review app permissions. Expect more legal scrutiny on big tech’s data practices.
Should tech giants face stricter privacy regulations?
