Website-Browsing Surveillance Suits Erupt After Appellate Ruling

Ashley Popa was shopping online for pet stairs. Without her knowledge, a third-party marketing service used by Harriet Carter Gifts was tracking her every move, collecting her personal identifying information even though she bought nothing.

Popa filed a proposed class action naming both businesses and claiming violation of a Pennsylvania anti-wiretapping law. A Pittsburgh federal judge granted summary judgment for the defense, but in August, the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit revived the suit, sparking a surge of similar new cases.

At least nine new class suits have been filed in the wake of that August ...