Spokeo class action alleges company displays private info prior to subscriptions

Spokeo privacy class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: Plaintiff Willis Lamar Ridgeway filed a class action lawsuit against Spokeo Inc.
• Why: Spokeo allegedly violates Alabama privacy laws by publishing identifiable information about consumers without their consent to entice others to purchase Spokeo subscriptions.
• Where: The Spokeo class action lawsuit was filed in California federal court.

Spokeo Inc. violates privacy laws by publishing “teaser profiles” with uniquely identifiable information about individuals to entice consumers to purchase Spokeo subscriptions to purportedly gain access to more personal information, plaintiff Willis Lamar Ridgeway alleges in a class action lawsuit.

Ridgeway says Spokeo created a “teaser profile” with his name, age, location and relatives’ names. This profile included blurred out information that would purportedly be available with a paid subscription. The blurred out information allegedly contained a partial phone number, email address and street names of current and former residences. 

The teaser profile also included various categories of information such as “Address History,” “Family Members,” “Court Records” and “Additional Details” that could purportedly be accessed with a paid subscription, the Spokeo class action lawsuit alleges.

Plaintiff says company unlawfully publishes personal info to sell Spokeo subscriptions

Ridgeway says Spokeo publishes teaser profiles so that the profile viewer can reasonably determine whether they know the person depicted.

“The ‘Results’ page further provides multiple user testimonials which suggest Spokeo’s database service provides value and can be used for a myriad of purposes,” the Spokeo privacy class action says. “The page further suggests that the service ‘has been featured on’ CNBC, The New York Times and HuffPost – all suggesting a subscription to the website is a valuable investment.”

However, Ridgeway says Spokeo misleads consumers about its subscription terms. Spokeo allegedly offers his “Full Name Report” for a “Special Price” of 95 cents, but the fine print on the page informs consumers that choosing this option will automatically enroll the user in a free 7-day trial that will automatically be renewed as a full monthly subscription for a price of $24.95 per month.

Ridegeway alleges Spokeo “misappropriated” his “indicia of identity … for its own commercial benefit” without obtaining his consent in violation of Alabama privacy laws.

He filed the Spokeo class action lawsuit on behalf of himself and a proposed class of Alabama residents whose indicia of identity was used by Spokeo without their consent.

Last year, Spokeo was hit with a class action lawsuit alleging it advertised fake discounts on its website to entice customers.

What do you think about the allegations in the Spokeo privacy class action lawsuit? Join the discussion in the comments section.

Ridgeway is represented by Gillian L. Wade and Marc Castaneda of Milstein Jackson Fairchild & Wade LLP; Joseph Henry, Allen Carney and Samuel R. Jackson of Carney Bates & Pulliam PPC and Chris Hood of Heninger Garrison Davis LLC.

The Spokeo subscriptions class action lawsuit is Willis Lamar Ridgeway v. Spokeo Inc., Case No. 23STCV29797, in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles.

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