Customer Kyle Zak filed a civil lawsuit in a Chicago federal court this week, claiming that Bose’s Connect mobile application secretly collected information about his audio choices. The company, Zak claimed, sent that information to third parties, including Segment.io.
"Indeed, one’s personal audio selections – including music, radio broadcast, Podcast, and lecture choices – provide an incredible amount of insight into his or her personality, behavior, political views, and personal identity," the complaint states.
It also notes that a person’s choices could indicate, for example, their sexual preference or religion.
"People should be uncomfortable with it," Christopher Dore, Zak's lawyer, told Science World Report. "People put headphones on their head because they think it's private, but they can be giving out information they don't want to share."
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The lawsuit is asking for undisclosed damages to be paid to consumers who purchased the following Bose products: SoundLink Around-Ear Wireless Headphones II, QuietComfort 35, QuietControl 30, SoundLink Color II, SoundSport Wireless and SoundSport Pulse Wireless.
The lawsuit also calls for an injunction aimed at immediately stopping Bose from collecting consumer data.
So far, Bose has not responded to our request for a comment, nor has it made a public statement.
Marketing pros should pay attention to this and related developments, especially as more privacy concerns surrounding consumer data surface. Growing backlash is also facing organizations in the wake of Congress repealing the internet privacy bill, enabling broadband providers to sell consumer data (and more).
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