Verizon Faces Two Class Action Lawsuits Over Privacy, Accessibility

Case Overview: Verizon is facing two class action lawsuits: one for allegedly collecting voiceprints without consent and another for website inaccessibility to blind and visually impaired users.

Consumers Affected: Verizon customers.

Courts: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (voiceprint lawsuit) and U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York (website accessibility lawsuit).

Verizon is facing legal trouble in both Illinois and New York, over business practices plaintiffs allege violate state privacy laws and federal accessibility law.

In Illinois, Verizon customers have filed a class action lawsuit claiming that the wireless giant collected their voiceprints without obtaining informed written consent, Phone Arena reports.

Plaintiffs Thelton George Parker Jr. and Steven Doyle allege that Verizon failed to disclose to customers that their biometric data—specifically their voiceprints—was being collected and stored through Verizon’s Voice ID system.

Verizon Accused of Violating Illinois Biometric Privacy Law

The lawsuit says this practice breaches the Illinois Biometric Privacy Act (BIPA), which mandates that companies obtain written consent and explain how biometric data will be used before it is collected.

BIPA is one of the strictest biometric data laws in the U.S., protecting data like fingerprints, voice, eye scans and facial recognition. 

Companies are required to provide transparency about how long the data will be stored and how it will be used, as well as secure written consent from individuals before capturing this sensitive information.

Verizon Website Not Accessible to Blind and Visually Impaired Users, Lawsuit Claims

Meanwhile, in a separate class action lawsuit, Verizon is being sued for allegedly failing to make its website fully accessible to blind and visually impaired people.

The lawsuit, filed in New York federal court, claims that Verizon's website violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by not incorporating accessibility features that would allow visually impaired users to navigate the site with a screen reader.

Plaintiff Derek Pollitt, who is legally blind, says he encountered significant difficulties while trying to purchase a phone from Verizon’s website, PhoneArena reports. 

He claims the site lacks important accessibility features like alternative text, resizable text, and descriptive links, forcing visually impaired users to rely on others for help.

The lawsuit also alleges that by not updating its website to meet modern accessibility standards, Verizon is excluding millions of potential customers with disabilities.

Meanwhile, Verizon has reached a $100 million settlement with customers over postpaid plan allegations. If you had a postpaid plan with Verizon, you might be eligible for a class action settlement claim. Click here for more information.

Case Details

• Parker Jr., et al. v. Verizon Communications Inc.
• Case Number: 1:24-cv-08436
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  
  
• Pollitt v. Verizon Communications Inc.
• Case Number: 1:24-cv-06156
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York

Have you used Verizon's Voice ID feature or experienced accessibility issues on their website? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.