Meta Pixel Privacy Litigation

Meta Platforms (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram) developed the Meta Pixel, a snippet of code that third-party businesses place on their websites, to track relentlessly track what people do online.  The Pixel can collect information about what you search for, what you click on, what information you enter into online forms, and so much more.  All this information is transmitted to Meta in real time, where it feeds Meta’s targeted advertising empire. On the surface, it seems to be a common digital marketing tool, but tools can be misused.

Evidence indicates that Pixel may have shared individuals’ sensitive health information with Meta without their knowledge or expressed permission. Consumers who used online scheduling, online patient portals, created accounts, or filled out telehealth questionnaires where the Pixel had been installed may have had their data collected by Meta. This could include sensitive information such as mental health symptoms, prescriptions, diagnoses, and other detailed and identifiable health information. This data could then be used by Meta to profit from ads targeted on the basis of this legally protected medical data. 

Even worse, it seems this data was collected from consumers even when they do not have Facebook accounts. Victims did not want or consent to contact with Facebook. Nonetheless, it seems Facebook may have taken their data and used it throughout their business.

Motley Rice believes that class action lawsuits are an important tool for both the individual and the marketplace. A class action lawsuit positions a group of similarly harmed consumers to pursue recovery for their alleged damages. Our consumer fraud team has litigated diverse and complex consumer fraud matters against industries and companies that prey on unwary customers.

In recent years, Motley Rice attorneys have filed litigation involving multiple cybersecurity breaches that left millions of victims susceptible to identity theft, including the Equifax and Marriott data breaches.

We also represent clients in litigation against General Motors and OnStar for their role in allegedly harvesting and selling driver data to insurance companies without knowledge or consent of the driver thus increasing their rates based on flawed data.

Motley Rice is also experienced in litigating against Meta Platforms—serving at the forefront of litigation that aspires to make Instagram and other social media platforms safer for children and their families. Our attorneys have filed multiple cases in California’s Superior Court and Previn Warren is co-lead counsel in the national MDL, In re Social Media Adolescent Addiction/Personal Injury Products Liability Litigation, case no. 4:22-md-03047. Plaintiffs allege Instagram and its parent company, Meta Platforms, exploited children to maximize profits and user growth by using algorithms that were designed to addict children and teens to the product.