Your Vibrator Could Be Spying on You, and Its Maker Could Owe You $500
Hey ladies (and gentlemen): Do you mind if I ask you something a little, well, personal?
Do you know if your sex toy has been spying on you?
First it was microwaves; now it’s your vibrator. Nothing is sacred anymore, folks.
Look, we can’t believe we’re writing about this either — but let’s all get the giggles out of our systems because there’s nothing funny about a sex toy company stalking your usage habits.
Practicing self-care or getting intimate with your partner shouldn’t be at the expense of your privacy — because these types of things are really, really personal. Duh. Now, one company is paying big for violating it.
This Vibrator Company Owes $3.75 Million. Are You Affected?
Standard Innovation, the Canadian company that makes the popular, high-end vibrators known as We-Vibe, has agreed to a $3.75 million class-action settlement. The agreement stems from a lawsuit claiming the company collected data about how customers used its products.
We-Vibe’s products include Bluetooth-enabled devices users can control via a smartphone when connected to the We-Connect app — because it’s 2017, and your partner across the country could help you have some frisky fun via the internet. Technology, man.
The semi-good news is strangers weren’t hacking your $130 vibrator (because holy hell, that’s creepy), but the crappy news is the company linked usage information — what settings owners used, for how long and how often — to customer accounts.
That’s creepy, too. WTF, We-Vibe?
According to the settlement, the vibrator maker will shell out up to $199 to anyone who purchased a vibrator capable of connecting to the We-Connect app before Sept. 26, 2016. Those who actually did connect their vibrator and use it via the app before that date will receive up to $500.
The courts also ordered the company to halt all data collection and destroy any past data it accumulated.
Of those affected, 300,000 people or more have bought Bluetooth-enabled We-Vibes; court documents state that about 100,000 of those customers used the app.
NPR reports: “The actual amount paid out will depend on how many people file claims; the company estimates people who bought the app will get around $40, and people who used the app around $500.”
Information about how victims can collect money their share of the settlement has not been released yet.
Your Turn: Were you affected by this class-action settlement?
Kelly Smith is a junior writer and engagement specialist at The Penny Hoarder. Catch her on Twitter at @keywordkelly.
