The tech giant Meta Platforms, Inc. is facing a class action lawsuit. The parent company of Facebook is alleged to have undermined Apple's ATT tracking protection.
The US company Meta has been repeatedly targeted by data protectionists in the recent past. Now the new accusation. Meta is said to have found a way to circumvent Apple's tracking protection "Apple Tracking Transparency" (ATT for short) - in order to track the usage behavior of iOS users. Four plaintiffs have been named by the responsible Californian law firm Girad Sharp LLC. But millions of Facebook users could join them.
Internal JavaScript code enables tracking
Since 2021, Apple has allowed users to decide whether they want to consent to their usage behavior being tracked or not. However, in some apps, tracking is still possible despite a click on "Decline". This was discovered by data protection expert Felix Krause, as reported by the news service "Bloomberg". According to the report, some apps insert a JavaScript code into every document that the user accesses. And it is precisely this code that enables tracking - despite prior refusal.
Instagram and Facebook apps affected
This affects apps from Instagram and Facebook. While the Instagram app is only supposed to use the JavaScript code, the Facebook app also launches an internal browser. This opens websites with a tracking ID and thus enables all text entries to be logged, according to the allegation. In this way, it may be possible to record when the user clicks on an ad or presses a button or link. According to the statement of claim, the taking of screenshots should also be saved.
Meta calls allegations "unfounded
Meta has a different opinion. The JavaScript code has been developed in such a way that it only collects data with the user's consent. And: The Facebook app's internal browser would respect all user guidelines regarding the use of their data, the company said in a statement. If the class action lawsuit is successful, Meta Platforms could face significant consequences. In the USA, those affected can join a class action lawsuit. This means that the four plaintiffs to date could quickly become thousands or even millions of plaintiffs demanding compensation from Meta.
