Ubisoft is facing a proposed class action lawsuit alleging that it exposed personally identifiable information of users to third parties without their consent. The video game maker is accused of sharing user data through tracking software known as a pixel. The named plaintiffs, Trevor Lakes from California and Alex Rajjoub from West Virginia, were subscribed to Ubisoft’s Ubisoft+ service.
They claim they were unaware that Ubisoft was sharing their data when they downloaded at least one video game while logged into their Facebook accounts. The lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, alleges violations of privacy laws and wiretapping regulations. The plaintiffs assert that users were not adequately informed about the data-sharing practices.
According to the complaint, Ubisoft’s website allows users to log in through various social accounts, including Facebook. This account linking practice can inform a user’s friends about the games they are playing or offer in-game incentives from developers.
Ubisoft class action over privacy violations
However, the plaintiffs argue that Ubisoft does not disclose on its website that users’ personally identifiable information can be captured via the tracking software. They contend that this exposure of personal data to unauthorized parties is a direct result of Ubisoft’s actions or cooperation. The lawsuit seeks several remedies, including monetary damages for all affected individuals and an injunction that would require Ubisoft either to remove the tracking software from its website or obtain explicit user consent for data sharing.
The plaintiffs also call for Ubisoft to anonymize video game titles in URLs, metadata, and other online parameters, and to hash users’ Facebook IDs in data transmissions. Currently, the lawsuit has not achieved class action certification, and the plaintiffs are seeking a trial by jury. Ubisoft has not commented on the allegations.
This case highlights ongoing concerns around data privacy and the use of tracking technologies in the digital age. The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for how companies handle user data and disclose their data-sharing practices.
