Irish Council for Civil Liberties to Take Microsoft to Court Over Data Privacy Concerns
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) is scheduled to apply to the High Court today to initiate a class action lawsuit against Microsoft, targeting the tech giant’s “real-time bidding” (RTB) advertising system. This system, which auctions off advertising space as users browse online, has been described by the ICCL as a significant breach of users’ data privacy.
According to the ICCL, Microsoft’s RTB system operates covertly on various websites and applications, matching advertisements to specific individuals by broadcasting private information about internet users. The council is pursuing this legal action on behalf of all affected individuals in Ireland, leveraging the new EU Collective Redress Directive.
Dr. Johnny Ryan, Director of ICCL’s Enforce unit, is at the forefront of this case. “Microsoft’s actions result in the broadcasting of people’s intimate secrets – such as their relationship status, work, and financial information – into the RTB system,” Dr. Ryan stated. “This system is essentially a data black hole, vulnerable to any malicious actor, and represents a massive data breach affecting millions of people’s personal information,” he emphasized.
In response to the ICCL’s filing, a Microsoft spokesperson indicated that the company plans to address the allegations through the appropriate legal channels.
This legal action highlights growing concerns over data privacy and the mechanisms behind online advertising systems. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for how tech companies handle user data in their advertising models.
