Wiretapping case

Introduction

On April 20, 2021, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia heard the case of In re: Google LLC Corporate Data Tracking Litigation (1:21-cv-00245). The case was brought by Google users alleging that the company violated their privacy by tracking their internet usage and collecting their data without their knowledge or consent. The plaintiffs argued that Google's data collection practices were in violation of the Federal Wiretap Act, the Stored Communications Act, and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.

They further argued that Google had violated their rights under the Fourth Amendment and the California Constitution. The court began by reviewing Google's data collection practices. It found that Google used its various services and tools to track users' internet usage, which enabled it to collect data about their activities and interests. The court noted that Google had not provided users with any notice or consent regarding its data collection practices.

The court then considered the legal arguments raised by the plaintiffs. With respect to the Federal Wiretap Act, the court found that Google's data collection practices did not constitute a “contemporaneous interception” of the users' communications, and thus did not violate the Act. With respect to the Stored Communications Act and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, the court found that Google had not violated either Act. The court then considered the Fourth Amendment and California Constitution claims.

The court found that Google's data collection practices did not constitute a search under the Fourth Amendment, as the users had not had a reasonable expectation of privacy in the data collected. With respect to the California Constitution, the court found that Google's data collection practices did not constitute an invasion of privacy, as users had not had a reasonable expectation of privacy in the data collected.

In conclusion, the court found that Google had not violated the Federal Wiretap Act, the Stored Communications Act, or the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. With respect to the Fourth Amendment and California Constitution claims, the court found that the users had not had a reasonable expectation of privacy in the data collected by Google. Accordingly, the court denied the plaintiffs' motion for class certification.