Supreme Court to Review Meta’s Appeal in Cambridge Analytica Lawsuit
The United States Supreme Court has agreed to consider Meta Platforms Inc.’s (formerly Facebook’s) petition to end a federal lawsuit brought by Cambridge Analytica data breach victims. The lawsuit alleges that Meta violated user privacy by allowing third-party apps, such as Cambridge Analytica, to collect personal data from its users without their consent. Cambridge Analytica used this data to develop psychological profiles that were allegedly used to influence the 2016 presidential election. In 2018, Meta settled with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for $5 billion over the Cambridge Analytica scandal. However, the victims’ lawsuit is still ongoing and seeks additional compensation. Meta has argued that the lawsuit should be dismissed because the plaintiffs cannot prove they suffered any financial or other tangible harm. The company also claims that the plaintiffs’ claims are barred by the First Amendment, which protects freedom of speech. The Supreme Court’s decision to review the case is significant because it could set a precedent for how companies can be held liable for privacy violations. If the Court sides with Meta, it could make it more difficult for individuals to bring lawsuits for privacy breaches. On the other hand, if the Court sides with the victims, it could signal that companies have a greater responsibility to protect user privacy. The Supreme Court is expected to hear oral arguments in the case in the fall of 2023 and issue a ruling by the end of the year. For more information and updates on this developing story, refer to the following link: https://michigan.newsnetmedia.com/supreme-court-will-consider-metas-bid-to-end-cambridge-analytica-lawsuitMeta Petitions Supreme Court to Dismiss Cambridge Analytica Lawsuit
Meta Petitions Supreme Court to Dismiss Cambridge Analytica Lawsuit
Facebook parent company Meta Platforms has filed a petition with the United States Supreme Court, seeking to overturn a lower court ruling that certified a class-action lawsuit against the tech giant. The lawsuit stems from the Cambridge Analytica scandal, in which user data from tens of millions of Facebook users was misappropriated and used for political advertising purposes. In its petition, Meta argues that the plaintiffs in the lawsuit lack standing to sue because they have not suffered any concrete injuries. The company also contends that the lower court erred in certifying the lawsuit as a class action, as the plaintiffs’ claims are highly individualized. If the Supreme Court grants Meta’s petition, it would be a major victory for the company and could potentially shield it from billions of dollars in damages. However, if the Court declines to grant the petition, Meta will face trial in a case that could have far-reaching implications for the regulation of social media companies. The Cambridge Analytica scandal broke out in 2018 when it was revealed that the British political consulting firm had obtained the personal data of approximately 87 million Facebook users without their consent. The data was used to create targeted political advertisements during the 2016 US presidential election. The scandal sparked outrage and led to numerous investigations and lawsuits against both Cambridge Analytica and Facebook. In 2021, Facebook paid a record $5 billion fine to the US Federal Trade Commission to settle charges related to the misuse of user data. The class-action lawsuit against Meta was filed in 2018 by a group of Facebook users who allege that the company violated their privacy rights and failed to protect their data from misuse. The lawsuit seeks billions of dollars in damages on behalf of the affected users. A federal judge certified the lawsuit as a class action in 2022, allowing it to proceed on behalf of all Facebook users whose data was accessed by Cambridge Analytica. Meta appealed the decision to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, but the court upheld the lower court’s ruling. The Supreme Court is now set to consider Meta’s petition and decide whether to grant review of the case. If the Court grants review, it will hear oral arguments and issue a ruling in the coming months.The Supreme Court will consider whether to end a lawsuit against Meta Platforms Inc. over the Cambridge Analytica data scandal. The lawsuit, filed in 2018, alleges that Meta violated users’ privacy by allowing Cambridge Analytica to access their personal data without their consent. Cambridge Analytica used the data to target political ads during the 2016 presidential election. Meta has argued that the lawsuit should be dismissed because users agreed to the company’s terms of service, which allowed Cambridge Analytica to access their data. The Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case in October. A decision is expected by the end of the year. If the Supreme Court rules in favor of Meta, it could make it more difficult for users to sue companies over privacy violations. It could also limit the ability of regulators to enforce privacy laws. If the Supreme Court rules against Meta, it could open the door to more lawsuits against the company and other tech giants. It could also give regulators more power to enforce privacy laws. The case is being closely watched by privacy advocates and the tech industry. It is expected to have a significant impact on the future of privacy law.
