Class action accuses Yahoo of secretly tracking millions through email-based IDs

Yahoo class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: Plaintiff James Caplan filed a class action lawsuit against Yahoo Inc.
• Why: Caplan alleges Yahoo secretly tracked its users through its ConnectID technology.
• Where: The Yahoo class action was filed in New York federal court.

A new nationwide class action lawsuit alleges Yahoo secretly tracked its users without their knowledge or consent through its ConnectID technology.

Plaintiff James Caplan claims Yahoo’s ConnectID technology allowed it to identify users’ email addresses to track their activity across the internet.

Caplan argues Yahoo’s ConnectID is “privacy-invasive” since it is a workaround to privacy mechanisms that are designed to prevent user-based tracking.

“Yahoo’s role as a centralized identity broker allows it to uniquely identify individuals and recognize them across websites and devices — exactly what privacy-preserving mechanisms are meant to prevent, and all without user consent,” the Yahoo class action states.

Caplan wants to represent a nationwide class of consumers who had their communications with third parties intercepted or used by Yahoo without their consent, or who had a ConnectID or other identifier intercepted or assigned by Yahoo.

Yahoo ConnectID allows company to create user profiles, class action claims

Caplan argues Yahoo used its ConnectID technology to create user profiles for the purpose of improving its ability to target unique users with advertisements.

“Yahoo does not simply track the identity of its users, but it creates profiles for the users, a key feature used to fuel its lucrative advertising business,” the Yahoo class action states.

Caplan claims Yahoo is guilty of unjust enrichment and violations of the Pennsylvania Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Control Act and New York General Business Law.

Caplan demands a jury trial and requests declaratory and injunctive relief and an award of statutory, actual, compensatory, punitive, nominal and other damages as well as restitution and/or disgorgement of unjust and unlawful profits.

In 2023, Yahoo agreed to a $117 million class action payout to resolve claims over data breaches affecting users between Jan. 1, 2012, and Dec. 31, 2016.

Have you been tracked by Yahoo? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Vicki J. Maniatis of Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman PLLC.

The Yahoo class action lawsuit is Caplan v. Yahoo Inc., Case No. 1:25-cv-02943, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

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