Lawsuit accuses Zoom of improperly sharing user data

Zoom Video Communications, the popular online video conferencing platform, is facing a class-action lawsuit for allegedly sharing users’ data with companies like Facebook without those individuals’ consent.

The suit, filed in federal court in California by a Zoom user, accuses the company of failing to “properly safeguard the personal information of the increasing millions of users” of its platform and disclosing that information without adequate notice or authorization to Facebook and possibly other third parties. It alleges that the behavior invades the privacy of users and violates California’s Unfair Competition Law, Consumers Legal Remedies Act and the Consumer Privacy Act.

The lawsuit cites a Vice report from last week that detailed how the iOS version of the Zoom app sent some user data to Facebook, even if a particular user did not have a Facebook account. According to an analysis conducted by the news outlet, Zoom notified Facebook when a user opened the app and provided details on the user’s device, such as the model and the time zone the person is in.

The data reportedly included which phone carrier an individual is using and a unique advertiser identifier.

“The unique advertising identifier allows companies to target the user with advertisements,” the lawsuit alleges. “This information is sent to Facebook by Zoom regardless of whether the user has an account with Facebook.”

The plaintiff alleges that users would not have been willing to use Zoom’s app if the company had disclosed it would “permit unauthorized third-party tracking of their personal information.” The individual seeking injunctive relief and damages pursuant to federal and California law.