Headphone Maker Sued For Allegedly Spying On Listening Habits Of Users
Bose has a variety of different popular noise canceling wireless headphone options on the market today.
Some of them cost upwards of $300. And right now the company is being sued by one of its customers over allegations that they spied on the listening habits of the headphone wearers.
According to a recently launched lawsuit, the Bose wireless headphones are able to spy on the customers through an app that tracks the music that they listen to, or podcast or other media material.
By doing this, they allegedly violated the privacy rights of the consumers by selling the information that they had collected; without the permission of the consumer.
The lawsuit has been filed by Kyle Zak in a federal court in Chicago, and they are looking for an injunction in order to stop the company's alleged disregard for tending to the privacy concerns of the consumers who wear the headphones and use the Bose Connect app.
The legal complaint that has been launched against Bose, alleges that they specifically violated the WireTap Act, along with state privacy laws. The complaint filed against the Bose Corporation is demanding a jury trial against Bose.
A spokesperson for Bose has responded in saying that the company fully intends to fight the “inflammatory” and “misleading allegations” about their products.
The specific Bose products listed in the complaint are alleged to be the QuietComfort 35, Sound Sport Pulse Wireless, QuietControl 30, SoundLink Color II, SoundSport Wireless, and SoundLink Around-Ear Wireless Headphones II.
Pics:
Pixabay
Simpsons - Fox via bullpenmom.blogspot.ca/2015/08/jury-duty.html
Sources:
http://www.news.com.au/technology/gadgets/wearables/your-bose-wireless-headphones-could-be-recording-what-youre-listening-to-lawsuit-claims/news-story/58245ec1745a199c3533ff45c01938e4
https://www.wired.com/2016/11/great-now-even-headphones-can-spy/
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/bose-headphones-accused-lawsuit-spying-listeners-n748311
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-39654085
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bose-lawsuit-idUSKBN17L2BT
https://www.scribd.com/document/345620278/Bose-Privacy-Complaint
If it is an app issue than it's not headphones issue. Going by this logic we can sue any headphones with an app or even better we can find a way to sue Spotify because of listening music on their app. Odd people. :)
the corporation was building a profile on them, using the headphones and the app, and selling that info allegedly to third parties. it's still yet to be resolved in the court.
it's an issue related to the actions that the company engaged in. allegedly lol
It should not be tolerated at any cost. Strict action must be taken for this.
I don't know much about the WireTap Act, but here in my country it is no big deal as long as the company isn't selling the data to a third-party company. It maybe necessary for the company to improve on the product. But they should let every customer know about it
Disclaimer: I am just a bot trying to be helpful.
it's alleged that is what they were doing
I'm not really sure this even falls under the jurisdiction of the WireTap Act. Obviously this is something for the courts to decide, but from what I could gather it seems like Bose is just logging information about what their users are listening to, and not intercepting or otherwise listening in on the actual song. It's honestly probably no different from any other music service (maybe apart from the selling to a third party thing) since I'm sure they all collect metrics around what people listen to. Personally I don't see how this law can apply in it's current form.
Ha! That's funny. Our habits are so valuable to large companies, it's about time we started being paid for it ;)
Suing big companies can be a very profitable enterprise. Just saying....
as well as suing individuals :)
Very nice @doitvoluntarily
It seems we are hearing more and more about spying on the general public in one way or another, I don't think we are living in Mayberry anymore. 😳
Hmmmmm- if this proves to be true I won't be buying any more Bose products.
thanks!
resteem my posts and upvote them and ill do the same 4 u, just reply done when you did so!
@doitvolubtarily
I guess we will see how it all plays out, but it sounds like a major invasion of privacy if you ask me!
Thanks for keeping us informed!
Upvoted