Stichting Data Bescherming Nederland files lawsuit against Elon Musk’s X. Corp: Know more

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Stichting Data Bescherming Nederland (SDBN), a Dutch non-profit foundation established to protect universal privacy rights, announced on Wednesday that it is launching a lawsuit against X. Corp, formerly known as Twitter, the company that owned ad platform MoPub between 2013 and 2021. 

The announcement comes after a prolonged effort by SDBN to address the illegal trafficking of personal data of more than 30,000 users from free mobile applications, including popular ones like Wordfeud, Vinted, Grindr, and Duolingo. 

Despite many attempts, it did not yield a resolution. In a comprehensive subpoena, SDBN is seeking damages from X. Corp for each injured party.

Illegally collected user data

According to SDBN, between 2013 and 2021, advertising platform MoPub and X. Corp illegally collected and exchanged user data from over 30,000 free mobile applications in the Netherlands. 

In addition to Wordfeud, Buienradar, Vinted, Shazam and Duolingo, these included numerous fitness apps such as MyFitnessPal, menstruation apps, dating apps such as Grindr and Happn, games for children such as My Talking Tom and apps centred on the Bible or apps targeting Muslims.

For eight years, even if users never sent a tweet, the free apps enabled X. Corp and MoPub to collect and share their personal data. Consumers did not know with whom and for what purpose X. Corp and MoPub did so. 

For example, MoPub shared personal data and data about sexual orientation, child desire or religious beliefs on the ad market. The data was then traded on to thousands of parties. 

They collected far more information than necessary, violating the most important law surrounding the protection of personal data – the GDPR.

Failed to reach an agreement with X. Corp

In November 2022, Stichting Data Bescherming Nederland held X Corp accountable for engaging in illegal activities and launched an awareness campaign through the website jestaattekoop.nl. 

Despite exchanging multiple letters, SDBN and X Corp failed to reach an agreement. As a result, SDBN filed a lawsuit today at the court in Rotterdam. 

The SDBN is demanding compensation on behalf of 11 million Dutch citizens. They will claim higher damages for children and victims whose data is considered especially sensitive, such as information regarding their religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or health. 

The foundation also argues that users are entitled to profit sharing. 

The total damages claimed could be substantial. The SDBN is also demanding the destruction of unlawfully collected personal data by X Corp and related entities.

Through the website jestaattekoop.nl, anyone who has used the free apps can find information and support the lawsuit. By now, more than ten thousand Dutch people have registered. Victims do not have to pay to participate in this lawsuit.

Dutch privacy expert Anouk Ruhaak, president of SDBN, says “X. Corp has collected data on millions of Dutch citizens for years. That data was then shared with thousands of companies, who made a lot of money. It is difficult to find out which parties all gained access and who currently controls our data. By holding X. Corp liable, we hope not only to obtain compensation for all those affected, but also to put a stop to this kind of practice. Unfortunately, companies like this often only listen when it hurts financially.”

Examples of free apps that exchanged personal data via Twitter’s / X. Corp’s MoPub platform at least between October 2013 and December 2021 are:

• Shazam (over 5 million downloads)

• Vinted (over 4.1 million downloads)

• Helix Jump (over 4.2 million downloads)

• Wordfeud (over 3.8 million downloads)

• Trivia Crack (over 3.5 million downloads)

• Zedge Wallpapers (over 3.3 million downloads)

• Super-Bright LED Flashlight (over 3.1 million downloads)

• Picsart Photo & Video Editor (over 3 million downloads)

• MyFitnessPal (over 2.9 million downloads)

• Piano Tiles 2 (over 2.9 million downloads)

• Agar.io (over 2.7 million downloads)

• 8 Ball Pool (over 2 million downloads)

• My Talking Tom (over 2 million downloads)

• DuoLingo (over 1.9 million downloads)

• Badoo Dating. Chat. Friends (over 1.6 million downloads)

• Solitaire – Zynga (over 1.6 million downloads)

• Happn Dating App (over 1.5 million downloads)

• Sudoku – Easy Brain (over 1.4 million downloads)

• Buienradar (over 1.3 million downloads)

• Grindr – Gay chat (over 510,000 downloads)

Meanwhile, the foundation also has a case pending against Amazon for privacy violations and the illegal tracking of 5 million Dutch Amazon users. The foundation has more cases pending in which user privacy has been violated by large tech companies.

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Vigneshwar Ravichandran

Vigneshwar has been a News Reporter at Silicon Canals since 2018. A seasoned technology journalist with almost a decade of experience, he covers the European startup ecosystem, from AI and Web3 to clean energy and health tech. Previously, he was a content producer and consumer product reviewer for leading Indian digital media, including NDTV, GizBot, and FoneArena. He graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Electronics and Instrumentation in Chennai and a Diploma in Broadcasting Journalism in New Delhi.

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