Facebook Hit With $15 Billion User Tracking Lawsuit
As Facebook launched its IPO on Friday, it was hit with yet another class action lawsuit over its practice of tracking of users even after they had logged out of its website. Facebook users on Friday filed an amended consolidated class action complaint in federal court in San Jose, Calif. The privacy suit involves alleged Facebook Internet tracking violations and seeks a minimum of $15 billion in damages.
This latest lawsuit consolidates 21 related cases filed in more than a
dozen states in 2011 and early 2012. Those states reportedly include
Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana and Mississippi. The consolidated lawsuit filed on Friday asserts claims under the Wiretap Act, which provides statutory damages of $100 per day per violation per user up to a maximum of $10,000 for each user. Even if Facebook's only found to have incurred one violation of the act per class member, it would be liable for more than $15 billion in damages across the class, class counsel Stewart Law said.
Further, the consolidated lawsuit asserts claims under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, the Stored Communications Act, various California statutes, and California common law.


