Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.
After three years of “intensive litigation,” comScore Inc. has reached a $14 million class action lawsuit settlement with Internet users who claim the analytics company installed data tracking software in their computers and devices without their consent. Class Members are estimated to receive approximately $200 from the comScore class action settlement.
It is believed to be “the largest privacy case to ever go to trial in terms of class size and potential damages,” according to the plaintiffs’ attorney
Lead plaintiffs, Mike Harris and Jeff Dunstan, alleged in their 2011 class action lawsuit that comScore installed data-harvesting software called OSSProxy disguised as part of other programs on their computers without their consent. They further allege that comScore designed OSSProxy to remain installed and collect information about their Internet use after they uninstalled the original programs.
The comScore class action lawsuit alleges that this information — which included credit card numbers, addresses, telephone numbers, bank account numbers, and full names — was then sent to comScore’s servers, where it was scrubbed of what OSSProxy “deems personally identifiable information” and then used to create the data and market reports that comScore’s clients pay for.
comScore is “a global leader in measuring and analyzing consumers’ Internet behavior,” according to the comScore settlement documents filed May 30. The company monitors over a trillion online interactions per month and collects, measures, and analyzes computer and Internet usage data for its clients, which include most major companies.
The comScore privacy class action lawsuit claims that this action violated federal electronic privacy laws. A federal judge certified the Class in April 2013. Later that year, the Illinois Court of Appeals denied comScore’s motion to overturn the lower court’s ruling and the parties began settlement discussions.
“comScore has denied and continues to deny any wrongdoing whatsoever,” the motion for settlement approval reads, “[n]onetheless, taking into account the uncertainty and risks inherent in any litigation, comScore has concluded that further defense of the Action would be protracted, burdensome, and expensive, and that it is desirable and beneficial that the Action be fully and finally settled and terminated in the manner and upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Settlement Agreement.”
If approved, the comScore class action settlement Class would include “All persons who, at any time since 2005, had comScore’s Data Collection Software downloaded and installed on their computers via a bundling partner, and used their computer in interstate commerce and/or communication,” according to the settlement documents.
Plaintiffs estimate that, based on the expected rate of claims, each Class Member who submits a valid claim will receive approximately $200, according to the motion.
“Without question, the instant Settlement compares favorably to other consumer privacy class action settlements, which most often result in monies being directed to cy pres [charity] or [minimal] payments to Class Members,” the motion says.
“[T]he proposed Settlement goes well beyond the established privacy class action settlement paradigm.”
Top Class Actions will update our readers as soon as claim filing instructions become available. Keep checking TopClassActions.com or sign up for our free newsletter for the latest updates. You can also mark this article as a “Favorite” using your free Top Class Actions account to receive automatic notifications when this article is updated.
The class is represented by Rafey S. Balabanian, Jay Edelson, Chandler R. Givens and Benjamin S. Thomassen of Edelson PC.
The comScore Privacy Class Action Lawsuit is Harris, et al. v. comScore Inc., Case No. 1:11-cv-05807, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
UPDATE: Instructions on how to file a claim for the comScore class action settlement are now available! Visit our open settlement page or www.DataCollectionSettlement.net for more information.
UPDATE 2: Viewers are reporting they are receiving checks in the mail from the comScore class action settlement. Congratulations to everyone who filed valid claims and got PAID!
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING
Top Class Actions is a Proud Member of the American Bar Association
LEGAL INFORMATION IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE
Top Class Actions Legal Statement
©2008 – 2024 Top Class Actions® LLC
Various Trademarks held by their respective owners
This website is not intended for viewing or usage by European Union citizens.
71 thoughts on$14M comScore Class Action Settlement Reached in Largest Privacy Case
HERE IS A NUMBER TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE IF NEED BE (312)589-637
MY CHECK CLEARED
I BANK AT BANK OF AMERICA, WENT IN TODAY AND CASH MY CHECK WITH NO PROBLEM. GOOD LUCK TO ANYONE THATS TRYING TO CASH THERE CHECK.
Got mine today in NE haven’t tried to cash it yet. Guess we’ll find out tomorow
got my check in NY and deposited it it was drawn on Bank of America and that is my bank. Thereis a number you can call on the paperwork if you have any problems 1-855-467-0204. The bank already released part of the money so the check better be good.
Got my check today, and wondering if it is real? nice surprise
i got my check 597.61!!
YUP!! GOT MINES TO $567.61 IM SO HAPPY ,GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME. AMEN.
Got mine Yesterday!
Yesterday, I received $597.61 in New York City. To Cindy and other concerned about the required changes to comScore policy, Ive been able to find the following so far from the settlement site: comScore has also agreed to take certain steps to modify its disclosures and the process for obtaining consent for the download and installation of its data collection software. – So, to me, it looks like comScore can still continue their practices, and they will probably include a disclosure, buried in a EULA or some other installation message that will probably be accepted, without individuals understanding the full ramifications.
Got mine today too! 597.61 in Arizona! Omg I’m so happy. Have a great week everyone!