Google was recently unsuccessful in getting a federal court to dismiss a lawsuit that accused the tech giant of violating the privacy of Google Wallet users. The lawsuit alleges that Google impermissibly shared users’ “personal information with outside app developers,” Reuters reports. Google Wallet stores users’ credit and debit card information so that users can simply tap their phone at checkout on a special terminal, creating ease of payment.
The lawsuit, pending in California, alleges that Google breached users’ contracts, violated the Stored Communications Act and violated California consumer protection law. The plaintiff is seeking to certify a class, with $1,000 in damages per violation and punitive damages, among other remedies.
Issues of data privacy pervade commerce. Companies that obtain or store consumer data should take care when using technology in their business transactions.
