14 DAY TRIAL // Wireless headphones company Bose is being sued for allegedly tracking the music, podcasts, and other audio users listen to, putting that information to use by selling it.
The accusations were included in a complaint that was recently filed in a federal court in Chicago. Millions of dollars in damages are demanded for Bose users.
The lawsuit states that Bose used the Bose Connect app to spy on users. This is the tool that customers use to pair the headphones to their devices in order to manage software updates and more. Bose has pushed users to install this particular app in order to "get the most" out of their headphones, asking for people's information when signing in, such as their email address, name, and the headphone's serial number.
The individual signing the complaint is Kyle Zak, who accuses Bose of completely disregarding their users' privacy. Lawyers representing Zak say that people put headphones on their head thinking it's private, but they can give out troves of information they may not want to share.
Heavy allegations against Bose
The lawsuit claims that Bose sends all available media information from the smartphone app to services such as Segment.io. This is a service that collects customer data and sends it "anywhere." Basically, Bose is said to use customer's data for money gain by selling it for marketing research.
The case tries to get millions of dollars in damages for Bose users of its headphones and speakers, such as the QuietControl 30, SoundLink Color II, SoundSport Pulse Wireless, and more. They are also trying to put a stop to all data collection by mentioning the federal Wiretap Act, as well as Illinois laws against eavesdropping and consumer fraud.
The company has yet to issue an official comment on the issue.