Online Directory RocketReach Must Face Privacy Violation Class Action, Judge Rules

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RocketReach Privacy Class Action Lawsuit Overview:

• Who: Online directory, RocketReach LLC. 
• What: RocketReach is accused of using people’s private information on its marketing page in order to solicit paid subscriptions from users and, under a recent court ruling, must face a class action lawsuit filed by an Illinois resident. 
• Where: The class action lawsuit seeks to represent Illinois consumers. 

Online directory RocketReach can’t escape claims it uses people’s private information – including phone numbers, location, and employer information – without their permission in order to sell its service, a judge has ruled.

US District Judge Elaine Bucklo filed a memorandum last week ruling that RocketReach had not convinced her that the Illinois Right to Publicity Act exemptions protected it from the privacy claims.

The judge adds that the company “misses the point” by arguing that its directory is covered under the act, saying the plaintiff isn’t objecting to the use of her name in the directory, but to her private information being used for the company’s marketing. 

RocketReach Displays Private Information

The class action complaint against consumer database RocketReach 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.”

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.

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.

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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