California Federal Court Rules TikTok Pixel Violates Privacy Law

A federal court in California has issued a ruling that could reshape the landscape of digital privacy law. For the first time, a court has determined that software on a website can violate California’s Trap and Trace Law, a component of the state’s Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA). This precedent-setting decision came in response to a class action lawsuit against C2 Educational Systems Inc.

The case, Dino Moody v. C2 Educational Systems, centers on C2’s partnership with TikTok and the use of data collection software on its website. Judge R. Gary Klausner of California’s Central District Court denied C2’s motion to dismiss, effectively recognizing that digital tracking methods can fall under the purview of laws originally designed for physical surveillance devices.

Filed in May 2024, the lawsuit alleges that C2 Education, an online tutoring platform for K-12 students, violated California Penal Code § 638.51 by implementing TikTok software that collects user data through “fingerprinting.” This process involves capturing various types of information, including browser and device data, and matching it with TikTok’s database.

The court’s ruling challenges the narrow interpretation of the Trap and Trace Law proposed by C2 Education, which argued that the law only applies to physical devices attached to telephone lines. Instead, the court determined that the law’s language is broad enough to encompass software-based data collection methods.

This decision aligns with a previous ruling in Greenley v. Kochava, Inc., which also recognized software “fingerprinting” as falling under CIPA’s definition of a pen register. By extending this interpretation, the court has potentially opened the door for a wave of similar lawsuits targeting online data collection practices.

Robert Tauler, the plaintiff’s attorney, highlighted the significance of this ruling, suggesting it could increase the value of privacy-related cases and encourage more scrutiny of digital data collection practices. 


Information for this story was found via the sources and companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.

Video Articles

2026 Could Be Gold’s Biggest Year Yet!? | Ryan King – Equinox Gold

Gold Is Screaming Higher While Currencies Burn | Simon Ridgway – Rackla Metals

We Have the Highest-Grade Antimony Deposit in North America!? | Jim Atkinson -Antimony Resources

Recommended

Canadian Copper Secures $8 Million Lead Order From Ocean Partners As Part Of Larger Funding Round

Northern Superior Expands Philibert With 350 Metre Step Out Testing 1.10 g/t Gold Over 25.5 Metres

Related News

FCC Commissioner Urges US Government To Ban TikTok

Brendan Carr, one of the five commissioners at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is calling...

Wednesday, November 2, 2022, 05:14:00 PM

House of Representatives Bans TikTok On All Official Devices

TikTok, the popular Chinese-owned video-streaming app, has now been banned on United States House of...

Wednesday, December 28, 2022, 03:03:00 PM

TikTok Shareholder Agreement Calls For Asset Seizure For Disparaging Statements

TikTok continues to display its Chinese roots, with the latest scandal being that employees, past...

Sunday, March 10, 2024, 10:32:09 AM

South Dakota Governor Bans TikTok From State-Owned Devices

Government employees, agencies, and contractors in South Dakota will no longer be allowed to download...

Thursday, December 1, 2022, 04:32:00 PM

TikTok Versus The US Congress

Ladies and gentlemen, have you seen what’s been going on in Congress lately? I mean,...

Monday, April 3, 2023, 01:30:00 PM