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.
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