- Oracle has agreed to a $115 million settlement over allegations it illegally collected and sold personal data, creating unauthorised “digital dossiers” on millions of people.
- The settlement requires Oracle to cease certain data collection practices and covers personal information collected since August 2018.
OUR TAKE
Oracle’s $115 million settlement over unauthorised data collection highlights a enduring privacy issue. This case questions about corporate data practices and whether companies really care enough about user privacy that the fine is a drop in the bucket compared to their profits. While Oracle adjusts its policies, it remains to be seen if this settlement prompts significant change or just a minor inconvenience.
–Jasmine Zhang, BTW reporter
What happened
Oracle has agreed to pay $115 million to settle a lawsuit alleging it violated privacy laws by collecting and selling personal data without consent. The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco federal court, accuses Oracle of creating unauthorised “digital dossiers” on hundreds of millions of individuals, including their online activities, banking, and shopping habits.
This information was allegedly sold to marketers or used in products like ID Graph to tailor advertising. The settlement, pending judicial approval, requires Oracle to stop collecting data from URLs and online forms outside its own sites.
Named plaintiffs include privacy advocate Michael Katz-Lacabe and privacy expert Jennifer Golbeck. The case highlights growing concerns over data privacy and corporate accountability.
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Why it’s important
By agreeing to this massive payout over allegations of unauthorised data collection, Oracle highlights a growing chasm between corporate practices and consumer rights. While the settlement might seem substantial, it’s a mere drop in the ocean compared to the billions Oracle generates annually.
This case still touches on some enduring questions, about how tech giants handle personal data and the extent to which they exploit it for profit. The idea that Oracle created digital dossiers on millions of individuals without explicit consent is chilling and represents a systemic issue plaguing the tech industry.
As Oracle commits to altering its data collection practices, it’s a wake-up call for other companies to reassess their privacy policies. The real question is whether this settlement will spur meaningful changes or merely serve as a costly but minor inconvenience for Oracle.
