Bose Headphones Are Spying on Users, New Lawsuit Claims

The audio equipment company Bose has been hit with a class action lawsuit over its wireless headphones and speakers, Fortune reports. Kyle Zak’s below complaint, filed in an Illinois court, focuses on the Bose Connect app—the mobile application that pairs smartphones with Bose’s wireless speakers and headphones. The lawsuit alleges that Bose designed the app to collect private data from users—including the names of the songs and audio files they listen to—which is then sent to third-party companies without users’ consent. Bose is specifically accused of sending user information to a data mining company. The complaint claims that the company has violated the Wiretap Act, the Illinois Eavesdropping Statute, and other laws relating to consumer fraud, invasion of privacy, and deceptive business practices.

The complaint argues that the music, radio programs, and podcasts people listen to “reveal sensitive information about themselves that suggests their politics, religious views, thoughts, sentiments, and emotions.” Zak’s lawyers are demanding that the class is awarded damages. They’re also seeking an injunctive relief to keep Bose from collecting and distributing data. Pitchfork has reached out to Bose for comment.

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