Consumer advocates have launched a class-action lawsuit against Meta, accusing the tech giant of unlawfully tracking user data across various websites. The case could impact millions of users in Germany.

The Austrian Consumer Protection Association has filed a class-action lawsuit against Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, alleging that the company is illegally collecting user data beyond its own platforms. The lawsuit claims that Meta tracks the online behavior of users across approximately 5.8 million active websites, raising significant privacy concerns for around 50 million users in Germany.

Many internet users have experienced targeted advertising that seems to follow them after searching for products online. Critics argue that this practice occurs without explicit consent, as users are often unaware that their data is being harvested for advertising purposes. Social media expert Julian Bossert has joined the lawsuit, stating that he has noticed an increasing misuse of his data without his agreement.

The lawsuit is being supported by Padronus, a litigation funder that is covering the costs for the plaintiffs, thereby eliminating their financial risk. Richard Eibl, the managing director of Padronus, has expressed confidence in the case, emphasizing that the allegations against Meta have been thoroughly examined. The proceedings are currently taking place at the Higher Regional Court in Hamburg, where similar cases have seen success in the past.