Vibrator maker ordered to pay out C$4m for tracking users' sexual activity

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

Vibrator maker ordered to pay out C$4m for tracking users' sexual activity

Canadian manufacturer We-Vibe collected data about temperature
and vibration intensity, revealing intimate information without
customers’ knowledge

Alex Hern
Tuesday 14 March 2017 10.08 GMT

Sex toy maker We-Vibe has agreed to pay customers up to C$10,000 (£6,120) each after shipping a “smart vibrator” which tracked owners’ use without their knowledge.

Following a class-action lawsuit in an Illinois federal court, We-Vibe’s parent company Standard Innovation has been ordered to pay a total of C$4m to owners, with those who used the vibrators associated app entitled to the full amount each. Those who simply bought the vibrator can claim up to $199.

The We-Vibe 4 Plus is a £90 bluetooth connected vibrator, which can be controlled through an app. It is marketed as a way to “allow couples to keep their flame ignited – together or apart”. Its app-enabled controls can be activated remotely, allowing, for instance, a partner on the other end of a video call to interact.

But the app came with a number of security and privacy vulnerabilities, which added up to produce something that many would feel uncomfortable about using.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/mar/14/we-vibe-vibrator-tracking-users-sexual-habits

[Blue_Tires]

1. I'm sure Snowden will get right on this!

[angrychair]

2. Private eye

Is watching you....watching you...watching you....watching tou

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. And here we were worrying about microwaves...

[MontanaMama]

4. Bwhaaaahaaaa

Good one.

[sharp_stick]

5. Melania is often in New York

while the orange menace is in DC....I NEED BRAIN BLEACH

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. They're getting it on through their microwaves?

[sharp_stick]

8. OHHH Donnnie

use the popcorn button...PRESS IT, PRESS IT

[Oneironaut]

6. Never buy something with an app if you want it private.

It's the equivalent of walking up to a random person in the city, telling them secret information, and saying, "I trust you!"

I'm guessing this was covered in the EULA somewhere, but a judge wasn't buying it. At that point, though, your data is already out.

Smart phones are an Orwellian spy device. Be careful. I like my iPhone 7, don't get me wrong, but everything you do on it is basically public domain. It's not supposed to be, but let's be honest - it is.