Class Accuses Cable One of Spying

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (CN) - A federal class action accuses Internet provider Cable One of "interception and eavesdropping" by installing devices in its broadband network so that NebuAd, an Internet ad company, could place targeted ads in Web sites visited by Cable One customers.

Samuel Green claims Cable One installed the devices for several months and was paid a "price per customer, per month" by NebuAd. The online ad company used the information to "monitor and profile" users and then place the ads on Web sites, according to the federal complaint.

Cable One did not inform customers of the "infiltration" and did not give them an opportunity to opt-out, the complaint states. NebuAd is not named as a defendant.

Green says both Cable One and NebuAd have testified to a congressional committee investigating whether NebuAd violated wiretapping laws. He claims Cable One lied when it testified that NebuAd used no personal information belonging to users.

Green adds that Cable One's actions intruded on his "seclusion and solitude."

The class seeks damages of $100 for each day of the intrusion and wants Cable One to delete all the data it wrongfully collected. Green claims that the class has had to spend time, money and resources investigating and trying to remove the "third-party tracking cookies" installed in their computers.

The class is represented by Joey K. James of Florence, Ala.

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Email *

Submit