A lawsuit alleging that Amazon secretly tracks consumers through their cellphones is raising serious concerns about privacy. This isn’t about a single instance, but rather the accumulation of evidence suggesting a pattern of data collection that goes beyond what most users realize or willingly agree to.
The core issue boils down to the assertion that Amazon’s business model, at its heart, involves mass surveillance. The ubiquity of Alexa-enabled devices, Fire tablets, and other Amazon products, each serves as a potential gateway for collecting vast amounts of user data. This data isn’t just collected passively; anecdotal evidence suggests a sophisticated system that interprets conversations, online searches, and even seemingly innocuous actions to create incredibly targeted advertising campaigns.… Continue reading
Apple will pay $95 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging its Siri assistant illegally recorded and shared users’ private conversations with third parties, such as advertisers. The settlement, covering a class period from September 2014 to December 2024, includes payouts of up to $20 per Siri-enabled device. While Apple denies wrongdoing, the plaintiffs claim unintentional Siri activations led to the unauthorized recording and targeted advertising. A similar lawsuit against Google is currently pending.
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As an attorney, I understand the importance of privacy and confidentiality, especially when it comes to personal data. So, when I came across the news of an attorney who saw her library reading habits reflected in mobile ads, it struck a chord with me. The idea of my private reading preferences being exposed to advertisers without my consent is unsettling, to say the least.
In today’s digital age, where our every move online is being tracked and monitored for targeted advertising, it’s concerning to see just how integrated our personal data has become. The concept of “listening” to our conversations or tracking our browsing habits goes beyond what many of us would consider acceptable.… Continue reading
Matt Underwood 
John Q. Hosedrinker