A new class action lawsuit was filed in federal court in California against Oracle America, Inc., alleging that it has been invading consumers’ privacy by using tracking technologies to build “digital dossiers” on individual internet users for marketing purposes. The lawsuit alleges that Oracle collects and sells personal information without consent in violation of both state law and federal wiretap law (Katz-Lacabe v. Oracle America, Inc.).

The complaint states, “Oracle tracks the lives of the general public in a manner that is opaque, if not invisible, to the people it follows, as they have no direct relationship with Oracle.” Specifically, the lawsuit focuses on Oracle’s “ID Graph” service which plaintiffs allege collects and infers information about consumers, including purchase history and life events (like marriage or a new job). The outcome of this case may set a strong precedent for data collection and digital advertising across the board. We will follow its progress. 

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