The parent company of the Los Angeles Times is facing a class action lawsuit for allegedly placing trackers on the devices of people who visit its website, allegedly in violation of California state privacy law.
The suit was filed by named plaintiff Taliah Mirmalek, both individually and on behalf of others similarly situated.
The complaint alleges that when users visit the LA Times' website, three trackers are installed on their internet browsers without their consent. These trackers reportedly collect users' IP addresses, constituting a "pen register" the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA).
The plaintiff argues that by installing and using these trackers without prior consent or a court order, the defendant violated CIPA.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages of $5,000 per violation under CIPA, but the lawsuit does not define what a "violation" means under that law.
Plaintiffs are represented by attorneys L. Timothy Fisher and Emily A. Horne, of Bursor & Fisher, of Walnut Creek.
The lawsuit was initially filed in Alameda County Superior Court in February, but was removed to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, on March 22.