50949_WKBW_7_Problem_Solvers_658x90.png

Actions

Invasion of privacy: Woman sues 'smart' sex toy maker

Posted
and last updated
An Illinois woman has filed a class-action lawsuit against a Canadian-owned sex toy maker, claiming the company invaded the privacy of its users.
 
The woman, who has not been identified, says Standard Innovation (US) Corp. secretly collects and transmit "highly-sensitive" information.
 
Her complaint is more specifically aimed at a smartphone-enabled vibrator called the We-Vibe, which she bought for $130 in May, USA Today reports.
 
She later learned at a Defcon hacking convention that her usage with the vibrator, which connects to a smartphone for customization, was being scrutinized for marketing purposes.
 
"It's come to our attention that the company is actually recording specific information about her and other individuals' usage of the device and that would include when it's on, how long it's being used for, what settings it's on, the temperature of the device," Eve-Lynn Rapp, the attorney handling the suit, told CBC.
 
The lawsuit accuses the company of consumer fraud, unjust enrichment, intrusion upon seclusion, and violating the Federal Wiretap Act and the Illinois Eavesdropping Statute. It asks for unspecified punitive damages.