Yahoo will face a US
class action lawsuit for allegedly accessing the content of emails sent to its
mail users from non-Yahoo Mail accounts.
A Californian judge
ruled that people who sent emails to or received emails from Yahoo Mail users
from 2 October 2011 can sue the company as a group, granting it class action
status.
There is estimated to
be over one million members in the privacy lawsuit.
Yahoo is accused of
using the data to boost advertising revenue.
The non-Yahoo Mail
users said the company intercepted and analysed their emails, along with
attachments with the goal of creating "targeted advertising" for its
275 million mail subscribers.
Last year, nearly 80%
of Yahoo's revenue came from its search and display advertising.
The judge also ruled
that a group of holders of non-Yahoo accounts in California since 2 October
2012 may also sue as a group for privacy infringement.
The accusers sought an
injunction banning Yahoo from allegedly spying on emails, along with damages.
In its defence, Yahoo
argued that some of the plaintiffs continued to email Yahoo subscribers,
despite being aware of Yahoo's activities and in doing so consented to Yahoo
accessing their emails.
A class action lawsuit
can make it easier for the group to receive larger damages and more
wide-ranging resolutions at a lower cost.
BBC
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