campbell v facebook complaint

8/3/2019 Campbell v Facebook Complaint

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IN THE UNITED STATESDISTRICT COURTFoRHBwEsrERNrsrRrcr FARKA*r,$ftyfrHl?HLf,^._?FAYETTEVILLEDIVISION ' rD,"rDr\.t\ffi:d#"r*{*As.F:SV rutlSTEPHANIE CAMPBELLPLAINTIFFlndividually and on Behalf of AllOthersSimilarly Situated,

,cgysR.oHlvsoN,#DeputyOerkcaseNo:/ l- S ^bblaintiffs.

F'ACI]T]OOK,NCServe t:1601 .CaliforniaAve.PaloAlto, CA 94304JURY TRIAL DEMANDEI}

DOES THROUGH 0,Defbndants.

CLASSACTION COMPLAINTPlaintiff,on behalfof herself ndall others imilarly ituated, lleges ndavers s ollows:

INTRODUCTIONThis class action arises out of improper and unlawful actions by the Defendantswhoparticipated n a scheme o intercept,endeavor o intercept,or procure he PlaintifTandthe Classmembers'personal nformationasprohibitedby law.Plaintiff and he Classmembersare ndividualswho subscribeo the online socialmediasiteFacebook.Facebook maintains personal information pertaining to each individual as well asmonitors he ndividualonline habitsof its users eeping rack of websiteshey visit.Upon obtaining personal nformation and/or wire or electroniccommunicationsof the

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Case 5:11-cv-05266-JLH Document 1 Filed 11/21/11 Page 1 of 14 PageID #: 1


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Plaintiff, Facebook conspired to use said information for target marketing whichpertained o the Plaintiff and he ndividualClassmembers, ver the Internet.Suchconductwas committed n violation of 'l'itle III of the Omnibus Crime Control andSafe StreetsAct of 1968as amendedby the ElectronicCommunicationPrivacy Act of1986, 8 U.S.C.$ 251 , et seq. the WiretapAct").

PARTIESPlaintiffs

6. Plaintiff Stephanie Campbell is an individual who residesat 73 Woodridge Road,Rogers, Benton County, AR 72756. Upon information and belief, Defendantsintercepted, ollectedandstoredpersonal nformation rom Plaintiffl

DefendantsDef'endant s a company organized and existing under the laws of Delawarewith isprincipalplaceof business t 1601S. California Ave. PaloAlto, California. 94304. Uponinfbrmation and belief, Facebook, Inc. owns and/or operates websites includingwww.fhcebook.com,which offer online social nteractionandpicturestorage.Defendants Doe 1 through l0 are the remaining directors, employees,agents, orcontractors f Facebook hatareyet to be namedand whose dentity will becomeknownthrough discovery and/orby requestsmadeby PlaintifTor the membersof the plaintiffclass,afler which such emaininedefendants ill be addedas ndividualdefendants.

JURISDICTION AND VENUEThis Court has urisdictionover this actionand all the defendants ursuant o 28 U.S.C. {il33l in that this actionarisesurder statutes f the United States, pecificallyviolationsof the "Wiretap Act".

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1 0 . Additionally, this Courthaspersonalurisdictionover DefcndantFacebook, nc. pursuantto the Arkansas ong-armstatute,A.C.A. $ 16-4-101, inceFacebook, nc. transactedbusiness and made contracts in Arkansas directly through the websitewww.facebook.com, violated he law within the stateof Arkansas,and otherwischassufficient minimum contactswith the state of Arkansasas more particularly describedbelow.DefendantFacebook, nc. has sufficient minimum contactssuch hat the maintenance fthis suit doesnot offend traditionalnotionsof fair play andsubstantialustice. Facebookhas voluntarily submitted tself to the urisdiction of this Court and urisdiction is properbecause, mongother hings:

a. Facebook, Inc. directly and purposefully obtained, misappropriatedand usedpersonal information and/or information relating to wire or electroniccommunications f individuals living in Arkansas, ncluding the Plaintiff and theindividual Classmembers;Facebook,Inc. committed tortuous acts within this state by misappropriating

personal nformation and/or wire or electronic communicationsof citizens ofArkansas ndotherwise iolating he WiretapAct and42U.S.C.g 1983;

Plaintiff s and he Classmembers'causes f action directlyarise romFacebook's ommissionof tortiousand unlawful acts n Arkansas:PlaintifFs and he Classmembers'causes f action directly arise rom

Facebook'sransaction f businessn Arkansas;Facebook,nc. should easonably nticipate eing haled nto court n

Arkansas o answer or its unlawful acts. Arkansas hasa strong nterest n providing

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T2,a fbrum for its residents ggrieved y violationsof the law.

Venue s proper n this District pursuant o 28 U.S.C.$ l39l(c) because substantialamount of the acts and omissionsgiving rise to this cause o1-action occurred n theWestern )istrict of Arkansas.

GENERAL ALLEGATIONSDefendantFacebook, nc. operates website,www.facehook.com,which is primarily asocialnetworkingsite.In conducting ts business, acebook,nc. aggregates ata on individual membersof thepublic anduses hat information n furtherance f marketingand advertising.Facebook racks, collects and stores wire or electronic communicationsof its users,includingbut not limited to their Internetbrowsinghistory.Leadingup to September 3, 201l, Facebookracked, ollected nd stored ts users'wireor electronic communications,ncluding but not limited to portions of their Internetbrowsinghistory evenwhen he userswerenot logged-in o Facebook.Plaintiff did not give consentor otherwiseauthorizeFacebook o intercept, rack, collectand storeher wire or electroniccom[runications, ncluding but not limited to her Internetbrowsinghistorywhen not logged-in o Facebook.The electronic nformation procuredby Facebook, nc. while Plaintiff was not logged-into Facebook ontainedpersonalnformationand/orwire or electroniccommunications fthe Plaintiff.At all times material, Defendantknew, or reasonablyshould have known, that theiractions violated clearly established statutory rights of the Plaintiff and the Classmembers.

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20.CLASS ACTION ALLEGATIONS

This action is properly brought as a plaintilf class action pursuant o Fed. R. Civ. P.23(bX3). Plaintiff brings this actionon her own behal f and all otherssimilarly situated,as representativef the following c lassand subclass:

All individuals n the United Stateswho subscribeo Facebookandwhoseelectronic internet information was interceptedby Facebook when theindividualswerenot logged-in o Facebook.Excluded rom the Classare (l) any individual defbndantwho opts out of the class; 2)any memberof the immediate 'amilyof any ndividual defendant; nd/or 3) any memberof the r-urdersignedttorney's mmediate amilies.The particular members of the Class are capable of being describedwithout difficultmanagerial r administrative roblems. The membersof the Classare eadily dentifiablefrom the nfbrmationand records n thepossession r controlof the defendants.'l'heClassmembersare so numerous hat ndividual oinder of all members s impractical.This allegation is based upon information and belief that Defendant ntercepted hepersonal nformation of millions of Facebookusers of which there are more than 150million in theUnited States.Thereare questionsof law and fact common o the Class,which questionspredominateover any questionsaffecting only individual membersof the Class,and, in fact, thewrongssufferedand remedies oughtby Plaintiff and the othermembersof the Classarepremisedupon an unlawful schemeparticipated n by all defendants, 'fhe principalcommon ssuesnclude,but are certainlynot limited to the following:

a. The natureand extentof the Defendant's articipation n interceptingheand/orwire or electroniccommunications f classmembers;

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b. Whetheror not the interception f wire or electroniccommunicationswasintentional;c. Whetheror not Defendant houldbe enjoined rom intercepting ny wire orelectroniccommunicationswithout the consentof its users;d. Whether he actions akenby Defendantn intercepting he wire or electroniccommunications f classmembers iolate he Wiretap Act;e. J'he natureand extent to which the wire or electroniccommunications f Class

memberswas unlawfully intercepted,racked,storedor used;f. The nature and extent to which Def'endantswere unjustly enriched by their

actions;g. The natureand extent o which Defendantsntruded upon the seclusionof Class

membersh. The nature and extent to which Defendantscommitted a trespass o Class

members'personalpropeftyThe natureandextentof the Classmembersactualdamages;The nature and extcnt of all statutory penalties or damages or which the

Defendant re iable o the Classmembers; ndk. Whetherpunitive damages re appropriate.

PlaintifT'sclaims are typical of those of the Classand are basedon the same egal andlactual heories.Plaintiff will lairly and adequately epresent nd protect he interestsof the Class. Shehas suffered njruy in her own capacity rom the practicescomplainedof and is ready,willing and able to serve as class representative. Moreover, PlaintifTs counsel is

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experienced n handling class actions and actions involving unlawful commercialpractices.Neither Plaintiff nor her corursel as any interest hat might cause hem not tovigorouslypursue his action.Certif,rcation f a plaintiff class under Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(bX3) is appropriate n thatPlaintiff and he Classmembersseekmonetarydamages, ommonquestions redominateover any individual questions,and a plaintiff classaction is superior fbr the lair andefficient adjudicationof this controversy. A plaintiff classaction will causean orderlyand expeditiousadministrationof the Class members'claims and economiesof time,effort and expensewill be fostered and uniformity of decisions will be ensured.Moreover, he ndividual classmembersare unlikely to be awareof thei r rightsand not ina position (either through experienceor financially) to commence ndividual litigationagainst he ikes of thedefendants.Alternatively,certificationof a plaintiff classunderFed.R. Civ. P. ?3(bXl) isappropriate n that inconsistentor varying adjudicationswith respect to individualmembers of the Class would establish incompatible standardsof conduct fbr thedefbndants r adjudicationswith respecto individualmembersof theClassas a practicalmatter would be dispositive of the interestsof the other membersnot parties to theadjudicationsor would substantially mpair or impede their ability to protect theirinterests.

COUNT I(Violation of the Wiretap Act)

Plaintiff incorporates ll preceding aragraphs s hough ully set orth herein.As describedherein, Facebook, Inc. intentionally interceptedand collected wire orelectroniccommunicationsrom its users.

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At times, h'acebook,nc. interceptedand collected nformation from its userswithouttheir consentwhile theuserswerenot logged-in o Facebook.The transmissionof data between Plaintiffs computer and the Internet constitute"electroniccommunication" ithin themeaning f l8 U.S.C.$ 2510(12).Facebook'sdatacollectionpracticesas described ereinconstitute interceptions"withinthemeaning f $ 2510(4).As a directandproximate esult of suchunlawful conduct,Defbndantviolated l8 U.S.C"$ 251 in that he Defbndants:

a. Intentionally ntercepted, ndeavoredo intercept,or procuredanotherpersonto interceptwire and/orelectroniccommuricationsof thePlaintiff;Upon belief predicatedupon fuither discovery, intentionally disclosed orendeavored o disclose o anotherpersoilthe contentsof Plaintitl's wire orelectronic communications, knowing or having reason to know that theinformation was obtained through the interception of wire or electroniccommunicat ionsn violat ion f l8 U.S.C.g25l ( l)(a).Upon belief predicated upon further discovery, intentionally used orendeavored to use the contents of Plaintiff s wire or electroniccommunications, nowing or having reason o know that the informationthrough he interceptionof wire or electroniccommruricationsn violation of18 .S.C.2511( lXa) .

Facebook nc.'s actions described n tl33 occurredwithout the consentof Plaintiff andviolated Facebook nc's own PrivacyPolicy per the following promises t made o users:

a. "We receivedatawheneveryou visit a....websitehat usesFacebookPlatformor visit a sitewith a F-acebookeature....Thismav include he

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dateand ime you visit the site; he web address, r URL, you'reon;technical nformationabout he IP address, rowserand he operatingsystemyou use;and, f you are ogged n to Facebook, our User D."FacebookData UsePolicy,availableathttp://www.facebook.com/fulldata use policy as of October4,201I andlastupdatedSeptember 3, 2011."DoesFacebook secookies fI don't havean accountor have oggedoutof my account?Whenyou log out of Fasebook,we remove he cookiesthat dentify your particularaccount,but we do use othercookiesprimarilyto helpkeepyou and otherson Facebook afeand secure. or example,weusecookies o identify and disable heaccounts f spammers ndphishers,to prevent peoplewho areunderage rom signing up with a falsebirthdate, o help you recoveryour account f you lose accesso it or it'scompromised,o powerour opt-in security 'eaturesike LoginNotificationsand Login Approvals,and o help dentify public computersso hat we can discourage eople rom using"Keep me logged n." Wemay alsouse anonymized r aggregatenformation o improve ourproducts.We alsousecookies f you don't havea Facebook ccount, uthavevisitedfacebook.com. gain, thesecookieshelp usprotectFacebookand hepeoplewho use t from maliciousactivity.For example, hey helpus detectand preventdenial-of'-servicettacksand he masscreationoffake accounts.We do not use hesecookies o createa profile of yourbrowsingbehavioron third-partysites.FacebookFrequentlyAskedQue tions,availableat permalink:https://www.facebook.com/help/?faq=23953077276573#Does-Facebook-use-cookies-i1--I'don't-have-an-account-or-have-loqged-out-of-mv-accqwtt? n October ,2011;and"What informationdoesFacehook eceivewhen I visit a site with the Likebutton or anothersocialplugin?..... f you're loggedout or don't haveaFacebook ccountand visit a websitewith the Like button or anothersocialplugin,yow browsersends s a more imited setof information.Forexample,because ou're not logged n to Fagebook,we don't receiveyouruser D." FacehookFrequentlyAskedQuestions, vailableat permalink:https //www.facebook.comArelp/?faq:29306 23997323#What-information-does-Facebook-receive-when-I-visit-a-site-with-the-Like-button-or-another-social-plugin?n October4, 20I1.

35 . Facebook Inc.'s actionsdescribed n 1133 ccurred without the consent of Facebook-affiliated websites, ncluding, for example, he websites or the New York Times andWashingtonPostnewspapers,n that:



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a. The interceptionand collection of infbrmation described n this paragraphcausedhe New York Times to violate ts own Privacy Policy for its websites,including www.nytimes.com,which infbrmsreaders

"If you have egistered nline for one of our sites,The New Yorkfimes will not sell, rent,swapor authorizeany third party to useyoure-mail addresswithout your permission.This alsoapplies o anyrnformation hatpersonallydentifiesyou,exceptas notedimmediatelvbelow:" and"NYTimes.comwill not sharepersonal nformationaboutyou as anrndividual o third partieswithout your consent."

http://www.nvtimes.com/content/help/rishts/privacv/hiqhliqhts/privacy-hiehliehts.htmlb. The interceptionand collection of information described n this paragraph

causedhe WashingtonPost o violate ts own PrivacyPolicy for its websites,including www.washin tonpost.om, which informsreaders

Do other companies r peoplehaveaccesso personally dentifiableinformation I provide to washingtonpost.com?Whenyou areon an areaof washingtonpost.comnd areasked brpersonallydentifiable nformation,you areprovidingthat nformation oThe WashingtonPostCompany, ts divisionsor affiliates,or vendorsprovidingcontractual ervicesor washingtonpost.comsuchas hostingvendorsand ist managers).f personallydentifiable nfbrmation s beingprovided o and"/ormaintained y any companyother han hese,ourpolicy is thatwe will not transfer hatpersonally dentifiable nformationunlessnotice s givenprior to transfer. f you do not want yourinformation o be shared, ou can choosenot to al low the transferby notusing hatparticularserviceor by expressinghis preference,frequested.

http://www.washinetonpost.com/wp-srv/interacVloneterm/talldmembers.htmRegardlessof the consentalleged by F-acebook,nc. from Plaintiff or the Facebook-affiliated websites, uch consentwas not valid because acebook nc.'s actionsdescribedhereinwere fbr the purposeof committing tortuousacts n violation of the laws of the

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United States or of any State. In taking its actions, Facebook, nc. committed thefollowing tortiousactsalleged n this petition:

a. Unjust enrichmentb. Intrusionuponplaintiff s seclusion;c. Trespasso personalproperty;

As a result of the aboveviolationsandpursuant o 18 U.S.C. $ 2520, Defendant s liableto Plaintiff and the Class n the sum of statutorydamages onsistingof the greaterof$100 for each day each of the class members' data was wrongfully obtained or$10,000.00per violation; iniunctive and declaratoryrelief; punitive damages n anamount o be determined y a ury, but sufficient to prevent he sameor similar conductby Facebook n the firture, and a reasonableattorney's f'eeand other litigation costsreasonable.

COUNT III(Unjust cnrichment)PlaintifT ncorporates ll preceding aragraphs s hough ully set orth herein.Plaintiff conferreda benefit on Defendantwithout Plaintiff s consent" amelvaccess oher wire or electroniccommunications ver he lnternet.Llpon nformationand belief,Defendant ealizedsuchbenefits hrougheithersalesothird-parties r greater nowledgeof its own users'behaviorwithout their consent.Acceptance nd retentionof suchbenefitwithout Plaintiff s consent s unjustandinequitable.

COUNT IV(Intrusion upon seclusion)Plaintitf incorporatesall precedingparagraphsas though fully set forth herein,

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42. In interceptingPlaintiff s wire and electroniccommunications n the Internet,Defendantsntentionally ntrudedupon her solitudeor seclusion.Plaintiff did not consent o Defendant's ntrusion.Defendant's ntentional ntrusionon Plaintiff s solitudeor seclusionwithouther consentwould be highly offensive o a reasonable erson.

COUNT V(Trespass o PersonalProperty)Plaintiff incorporates ll preceding aragraphs s houghset brth herein.Def'endant,ntentionallyandwithout consent r other egal ustification, rackedPlaintiff s activity while the Plaintiff was ogged-offof the websiteFacebook.com, nd,in the proccss, onnectedPlaintiff s personallydentifiable nfbrmation o her specificactionson the Internet.Defendant, ntentionallyandwithout consentor other egal ustification,placedcookieson Plaintiffs computerswhich trackedher activity while logged-offof Facebook.Def-endant'sntentionalandunjustitiedplacingof a cookiedesignedo trackPlaintiff sInternetactivitieswhile logged-offof Facebook nd actual rackingof Plaintiff sactivities nterferedwith Plaintiff s useof the following personalpropertyownedby thePlaintifT':

a. PlaintifT'scomputer;andb. Plaintiff.s personally dentifiable nfbrmation

PRAYERFOR DAMAGESWHEREFORE, Plaintiff,on bchalfof herself ndall members 1 heClass espectfully rays

for udgment gainsthedefendantss ollows:a) For an order certifying that this actionmay be maintainedas a classaction under Fed.R.

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Civ. P. 23(bX3) or, in the alternative,Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(bxl) and appointingPlaintiffandher corursel,o representhe Classand directing hat reasonable oticeof this actionbe given o all other membersof the Classasnecessary nd appropriate;I'or a declarationhat he Defendants' ctions iolated he l8 U.S.C.2511et seq,;For a declaration hat the Defendants,hrough their actions and misconductas allegedabove,have been unjustly enrichedand an order that Defendantsdisgorge suchunlawfulgainsand proceeds;For a declaration hat the Def'endants,hrough their actions and misconductas allegedabove,have intruded upon Class members' seclusionand an order assessing amagesagainstDefendantsor suchviolations;For a declaration hat the Defendants,hrough their actions and misconductas allegedabove, have committed trespassupon the personalproperty of Plaintiff and an orderassessing amages gainst he Defendants or v iolations of Plaintiff s personalpropertyrights;For all actual damages,statutory damages,penalties,and remediesavailable br thedefbndants'iolat ions f 18U.S.C. 51I et seq.;That udgmentbe enteredagainstDefendant or statutorydamages ursuant o l8 U.S.C.$2520(cX2XB);That udgmentbe enteredagainstDefendant or statutorydamages ursuant o 18 U.S.C.$2s20(b)(2);ThatPlaintiff and he Class ecoverpre-judgment ndpost-judgmentnterestaspermittedby law;For an award to Plaintiff and the Class of their reasorrab le ttorneys' fees and other

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litigationcosts easonablyncurred ursuanto 18 U.S.C.$2520(bX3);That the court enteran order grantingPlaintiff and the Classa preliminary and permanentinjunction restraining and enjoining Defendant from any act to intercept electronicinfarmation from its userswhen they are not logged n and from disclosingany of theinfbrmationalreadyacquiredon its servers;That the Court grant such other and fuither relief as may be ust and proper;

JURY DEMANDPlaintiff demands hat all issues o riable n this Complaintbe tried to a ury.

Datcd his Sthdayof November, 011.DAVIS & ASSOCIATBS. P.A.

BrianCampbell, r. Bar#20070691?0Commercial treetP.O.DrawerSpringdale,R72765Tclephone:479)751 33 4Fax: 479)751-2183

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campbell v facebook complaint

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