The ‘Long Arm’ of CIPA and Its Newfound Pen-Trap Claims
In an earlier piece, we discussed the increase in recently-filed California Invasion of Privacy Act (“CIPA”) TikTok trap and trace device lawsuits. Generally, TikTok trap and trace actions allege that the use of TikTok...more
In a prior alert, we predicted an uptick in class action complaints brought under the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA) alleging that modern website analytical tools such as pixels, cookies and session replay software...more
Businesses need to remain vigilant regarding recent developments in consumer-based data privacy class actions. In recent weeks, the plaintiff class action bar has filed several lawsuits against The Trade Desk Inc. related to...more
On April 2, 2025, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California granted Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss in Lakes et al. v. Ubisoft, Inc. In Lakes, Among other eavesdropping claims, Plaintiffs alleged...more
The California Invasion of Privacy Act continues to be a focal point for privacy litigation, particularly concerning website tracking practices. A recent case, Gabrielli v. Insider Inc. sheds new light on whether collecting...more
Three recent federal court cases consider whether the use of third party trackers embedded in websites can be the basis of class action lawsuits alleging violations of statutes enacted before the internet existed. These...more
Beware of demand letters from plaintiffs’ attorneys for allegations of illegal use of pen registers, trap and trace pixels, and search bar pixels—why? This “trap and trace” litigation is a growing trend for plaintiffs’...more
As the debate simmers about the proper application of the wiretapping provisions of the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA), courts continue to weigh in on what technologies may constitute improper third-party...more
Welcome to the twentieth installment in our monthly data privacy litigation report. We prepare these reports to provide updates on how courts in the United States have handled emerging data privacy trends. After our expansive...more
A California federal district court recently granted class certification in a lawsuit against a financial services company. The case involves allegations that the company’s website used third-party technology to track users’...more
Plaintiffs are persistently crafting creative legal theories to target tracking technologies. One new approach is to characterize tracking technologies as “pen registers” or “trap and trace devices” used in violation of...more
Readers of this blog are aware of the never-ending stream of lawsuits alleging that the use of third-party tracking technology to collect consumer data on company websites is tantamount to illegal wiretapping in violation of...more
If your business operates online and uses common marketing tools, your business is at risk of being targeted for lawsuits under pre-internet wiretapping and video rental privacy laws. It is critical to address and mitigate...more
Over the past year, lawsuits under the California Invasion of Privacy Act (“CIPA”) have gained significant momentum, and there’s no sign of them slowing down. Both state and federal courts in California are seeing a rise in...more
Keypoint: The Central District of California issued several wiretapping decisions in May while two decisions on the VPPA illustrate how claims fail or succeed at the pleading stage. Welcome to the fourteenth installment in...more
California businesses are experiencing a tsunami of demands and complaints alleging class action status that applies the well-established 1960’s California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA) to the internet’s new technology. CIPA...more
Keypoint: Courts continue to issue conflicting decisions in wiretapping cases while one court has expanded who may be considered a “video tape service provider” under the VPPA. Welcome to the eleventh installment in our...more
Readers may recall our recent article discussing a new trend in California Invasion of Privacy Act (“CIPA”) litigation in which enterprising plaintiffs’ attorneys have brought CIPA allegations against companies that use...more
Here is what we can learn from class action lawsuits filed in the last few days under the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA), the Pennsylvania Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Control Act, and other...more
If you've been on the Web lately (and we all have), you've probably seen a site with a chat feature. Consumers in several cases have attempted to use those chat features as a basis for liability under a California privacy...more