Class action alleges Apple’s Safari browser allows user tracking despite privacy promises

Safari class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: Plaintiff Sarah Simpson filed a class action lawsuit against Apple Inc.
• Why: Simpson claims Apple falsely advertised Safari as protecting users from online tracking while allowing third parties to track them through browser fingerprinting.
• Where: The Safari class action lawsuit was filed in California federal court.

A new class action lawsuit alleges Apple misled consumers by advertising Safari as protecting users from online tracking while allowing third parties to track them through browser fingerprinting.

Plaintiff Sarah Simpson claims Apple misled consumers about the privacy features of its Safari web browser, which allegedly fails to protect users from tracking by third parties.

Simpson argues Apple misrepresents Safari as a private and secure browser, alleging the company’s advertising campaign promises that Safari prevents tracking by third parties.

“Apple has made privacy its brand, even going so far as saying: ‘Privacy. That’s Apple,’” the Safari class action lawsuit says. “Apple’s practices disregard their consumers’ privacy preferences and expectations.”

Simpson claims Apple’s Safari web browser transmits large amounts of user data to third parties, allowing advertisers to track consumers’ online activities.

“Apple’s practices infringe upon consumers’ privacy; intentionally deceive consumers; give third parties power to learn intimate details about individuals’ lives, interests and web browser usage; and allow third parties to use consumers’ browsing data for their own benefit,” the Safari class action lawsuit says.

Simpson wants to represent a class of all persons residing in the United States who purchased an Apple device with the Safari web browser pre-installed.

Safari web browser fails to prevent tracking, privacy lawsuit claims

Apple’s Safari web browser allegedly transmits information about users’ web browsers and devices to every website they visit, the Apple class action says, adding that this information is used for “fingerprinting,” a method of tracking users by creating a unique profile for each user.

Simpson argues Apple’s Safari web browser fails to prevent fingerprinting and does not accurately flag fingerprinting scripts in its privacy report, even in private browsing mode.

The class action lawsuit claims Safari’s default settings do not protect users from fingerprinting and that users must make changes in Safari’s settings to enable any kind of fingerprinting protection.

Simpson claims Apple’s alleged misrepresentations led consumers to believe that Safari would protect their privacy, causing them to pay a premium for Apple products.

The Safari class action lawsuit raises claims for breach of express contract, breach of implied contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, violation of California’s Unfair Competition Law, False Advertising Law and Consumers Legal Remedies Act.

In other Apple news, two consumers have filed a class action lawsuit against Apple, alleging the company used pirated books to train its Apple Intelligence AI models.

Have you purchased an Apple device with the Safari web browser pre-installed? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Jae K. Kim and Tiffine E. Malamphy of Lynch Carpenter LLP.

The Apple Safari class action lawsuit is Simpson v. Apple Inc., Case No. 5:26-cv-06307, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division.

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