Google, H&R Block file motions to dismiss data privacy lawsuit

Update:

• H&R Block asked a federal court in California to dismiss claims it conspired to share private user data with Meta and Google, saying instead it had a normal business relationship with Google Analytics to measure user experience and used an appropriate disclaimer.
• The parties are scheduled to appear in front of U.S. District Judge P. Casey Pitts at 10 a.m. March 7.
• H&R Block also filed a motion to compel Plaintiff Justin Hunt to arbitration instead of a class action lawsuit due to an arbitration clause in an agreement he signed.
• If H&R Block is compelled to arbitration but Google must face the class action claims, Google asked for a stay of the lawsuit until arbitration is complete.

H&R Block class action overview: 

• Who: H&R Block, Facebook parent company Meta and Google parent company Alphabet are facing a class action lawsuit from plaintiff Justin Hunt.
• Why: H&R Block is accused of sharing highly sensitive tax return and financial information with Google and Meta.
• Where: The H&R Block data sharing class action was filed in federal court in California.

(Oct. 11, 2023)

H&R Block is facing a class action lawsuit alleging that the online tax preparation website shared highly sensitive tax return and financial data with Google and Meta.

Plaintiff Justin Hunt filed the lawsuit in a California federal court, alleging violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) as well as anti-wiretapping laws, tax return confidentiality restrictions and state privacy laws.

Hunt’s lawsuit alleges H&R Block made agreement with Meta and Google from 2015 onward to install the companies’ tracking software, which allowed the tech giants to collect H&R Block customers’ information without their knowledge.

The sharing is done through pixels, embedded code that monitors user browsing information.

The class action claims the intercepted data includes name, Social Security number, address, adjusted gross income, filing status, refund amount, deductions, dependents, income properties, date of birth, health savings account contributions, education expenses and any other information submitted while filing a tax return.

Tech companies know the value and laws regarding intercepting personal information, lawsuit claims

The tech companies that collect the tax-return data are well aware of the laws regarding collecting private user data and continue to collect that information despite knowing its value to customers, the H&R Block class action claims.

TaxAct is also facing a similar class action lawsuit claiming it embedded a code to share personal data from tax returns with both Google and Meta.

Are you concerned H&R Block may have let Google and Meta have your personal information without your knowledge? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by R. Brent Wisner and Harrison E. James of Wisner Baum LLP, along with Christopher L. Coffin of Coffin Law LLC and Jessica A. Reynolds of Pendley Gaudin and Coffin LLC. 

The H&R Block class action lawsuit is Hunt v. Meta Platforms Inc. f/k/a Facebook, et al., Case No. 3:23-cv-4953, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

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