Pole Dancing Teacher Sues Zoom Over ‘Uninvited Men’ in Lessons

Zoom Video Communications Inc. was hit with a proposed class action in California federal court Monday by a customer who claims the company overpromised on security, which she discovered when “uninvited men” started joining her Zoom classes for her dance studio.

Stacey Simins, who paid for a Zoom subscription to continue teaching burlesque and pole dancing during the shelter-in-place order due to Covid-19, says she relied on promised security features when she purchased the video-conferencing software.

Simins says she has seen canceled sessions and lower attendance as a result of the alleged intrusions.

Simins, hoping to represent a class of everyone who has used Zoom Meetings in the U.S., says Zoom was misleading in its security representations in violation of various state laws.

“The level of encryption Zoom provides is far less robust than what it promised,” the complaint says. “And a wide variety of security failings have jeopardized Zoom-users’ privacy. These failings have enabled bad actors to join meetings without permission, to access web cameras surreptitiously, and to access many thousands of recorded Zoom meetings stored online.”

The videoconferencing company has faced scrutiny over its privacy and data security practices, following the surge in its coronavirus-induced popularity.

Causes of Action: Violation of the California Unfair Competition Law, violation of the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act, fraud, and unjust enrichment.

Relief: Class certification, injunctive relief, damages, restitution, attorneys’ fees.

Class Size: Simins seeks to represent “millions of users.”

Response: Zoom didn’t immediately return Bloomberg Law’s request for comment.

Attorneys: The plaintiff and proposed class are represented by Gibbs Law Group LLP.

The case is Simins v. Zoom Video Commc’ns, Inc., N.D. Cal., No. 5:20-cv-02893, 4/27/20.