CPM Investigating Amazon’s Allegedly Illegal Consumer Data Tracking

CPM Consumer Fraud Team is investigating allegations that Amazon developed and disseminated a software development kit (“SDK”) that granted Amazon backdoor access to your location and other private information. Amazon’s Ads SDK has allowed over 20,000 mobile applications to serve Amazon Ads but also provided Amazon with a data collection pipeline that allows it to determine where you live, where you work, and where you go throughout your day. The data Amazon illegally harvested can reveal sensitive information about you, including religious affiliation, family life, sexual orientation, and medical conditions.

Amazon allegedly stole this information without user permission or consent. While a user may permit an application to track their location to provide the app’s services (for example, the weather in your location), this permission does not extend to Amazon or allow it to track your every move, just because you are using an app that was built on Amazon’s SDK.

If you used the following applications, then you may be entitled to damages from Amazon’s covert and deceptive data collection practices:

Companies like Amazon must treat users and the general public fairly. Amazon must be held to account if it knowingly and secretly creates an illegal database of consumer information. Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy Partner Thomas E. Loeser is a former federal cyber-prosecutor who specializes in technology class action cases.  If you used any of the apps listed above, please fill out the form below to make sure your rights are protected, and Amazon is held accountable.”