Consumer database RocketReach uses consumers’ personal information – including phone numbers, location, and employer information – unlawfully and without their permission in order to sell its service, a new class action lawsuit alleges.
The class action was filed in the Northern District of Illinois on April 12 by lead Plaintiff Aimee Krause. Krause alleges that RocketReach was using her full name, employer, job title, and links to her social media pages on its marketing page in order to solicit paid subscriptions from users.
Krause never provided the company with any form of consent and had never been a RocketReach customer, according to the class action.
RocketReach operates a website that sells access to the advertised “world’s largest and most accurate database of emails and direct dials” database to anybody willing to pay for a monthly subscription, the class action explains.
“Unsurprisingly, the people appearing in these advertisements never provided RocketReach with their consent (written or otherwise) to use their identities for any reason, let alone for marketing purposes.”
Those wanting to try RocketReach’s services for free can search a name in the database to see what information is available on that individual, therefore using consumer’s identities to sell their product, the class action claims.
“RocketReach does not offer to sell information about the individuals searched on its website, but rather, uses their identities to sell subscriptions to its paid service.”
RocketReach’s behavior misappropriates people’s identities for commercial benefit, according to the lawsuit. “Most importantly, RocketReach never obtained written consent from Plaintiff and Class members to use their names or other identifying information for any reason, let alone for commercial purposes.”
Krause seeks to represent all Illinois residents whose identities were displayed on RocketReach’s marketing page.
She is suing on the grounds of violations of the Illinois Right to Publicity Act and is seeking certification of the Class, an injunction, damages, interest, legal fees, and a jury trial.
Companies frequently face class action lawsuits over alleged data breaches. This month, a Florida woman filed a class action lawsuit against Whirlpool, saying that the company tracked her use of its website in violation of her state’s privacy laws.
In a case similar to Krause’s class action, an Ohio woman filed a class action lawsuit in March that alleges that Classmates.com misappropriated her yearbook picture for online advertising without asking, and she’s not the only one.
Have you ever had any of your personal information shared online without your permission? Let us know in the comments section!
Krause is represented by Benjamin H. Richman, Ari J. Scharg, Benjamin S. Thomassen, and Albert J. Plawinski of Edelson PC.
The RocketReach Data Misuse Class Action Lawsuit is Krause v. RocketReach LLC, Case No. 1:21-cv-01938, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division.
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