In a dramatic legal move, a class action lawsuit has been filed against a major social networking corporation for allegedly intercepting and exploiting sensitive health information without consent. The complaint was lodged by L.W.A., representing herself and others similarly affected, in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara on October 22, 2024. The defendant in this case is LinkedIn Corporation.
The plaintiff accuses LinkedIn of unlawfully intercepting confidential medical information from users who completed health surveys on Noom's website, a digital health company. According to the complaint, LinkedIn utilized its Insight Tag technology to track and collect sensitive data without user consent. This data included personal health details such as weight loss history and medical conditions, which were allegedly used for targeted advertising purposes. The plaintiff argues that this conduct violates both state and federal privacy laws designed to protect such sensitive information.
L.W.A., who resides in San Diego, California, claims that she was unaware her private interactions with Noom were being monitored by LinkedIn. She had shared detailed personal information while using Noom’s services to develop a weight loss plan. The lawsuit highlights how LinkedIn's actions contravened its own terms of service and breached user trust by failing to obtain explicit consent for these interceptions. The plaintiff contends that LinkedIn’s practices represent an egregious breach of privacy rights under the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA) and the California Constitution.
The plaintiffs are seeking various forms of relief from the court, including compensatory damages for all affected class members, punitive damages to deter similar future conduct by LinkedIn, disgorgement of profits obtained through these alleged illegal activities, and injunctive relief to prevent further unauthorized use of personal data. They also request attorney fees and other litigation costs associated with bringing this action forward.
Representing the plaintiff is Sarah N. Westcot from Bursor & Fisher, P.A., based in Miami, Florida. The case is being reviewed under Case ID 24CV450084 by Judge M. Suarez at the Superior Court of California in Santa Clara County.