Microsoft Sued Over Data Collection in Online Ad Marketplace

Microsoft Corp. conducts continuous surveillance of the online activity of millions of consumers through its advertising and analytics platforms without their knowledge or consent, in violation of state and federal privacy laws, a proposed federal class action said.

Stacy Penning and five other lead plaintiffs alleged that Microsoft uses its technology to de-anonymize users on the web, allow users to be “bought and sold” to advertisers in the process of bidding for ad space on websites users are visiting, and enable website operators to monetize their sites by collecting information on users.

The practices of Microsoft and its counterparts ...