# Class Action Lawsuit Against Perplexity AI: Leak of User Queries to Google and Meta
A Utah resident has filed a class action lawsuit in San Francisco federal court against Perplexity AI. The complaint alleges the installation of "undetectable" trackers on users' devices when visiting the site. These trackers send conversation content—search queries and follow-up questions—in real time to Google and Meta servers. The plaintiff shared confidential information about taxes, investments, and family finances, believing the conversation was protected.
The trackers continue to function even in "Incognito" mode, which Perplexity promotes as a privacy feature. According to the plaintiff, the collected data is used for targeted advertising and sold to third parties. The lawsuit (Doe v. Perplexity AI Inc., 3:26-cv-02803) also names Google and Meta, accusing them of violating federal computer fraud laws and California's personal data protection regulations.
Company Reactions and Context
Meta stated that its policies prohibit advertisers from transmitting confidential information. Google did not comment on the inquiry. Perplexity said it has not received official notice of the lawsuit and cannot confirm its details. The company declined to comment on the use of trackers from Meta and Google.
This is not the first legal action against Perplexity. In March, a federal court barred the AI agent Comet in the browser from accessing password-protected sections of Amazon and making purchases on users' behalf. Previously, lawsuits were filed by The New York Times, Reddit, and Dow Jones.
Implications for Privacy in AI Search
Perplexity positions itself as a privacy-focused alternative to Google Search, free of ads. If the allegations are proven, it would undermine the service's core promise. Users seeking protection from tracking by traditional search engines risk sharing their data with those very companies.
Cases like this typically last 12–36 months. The lawsuit could draw scrutiny from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which has ramped up oversight of privacy in AI services.
- Key Violations in the Lawsuit:
- Real-time transmission of queries without consent.
- Ignoring "Incognito" mode.
- Using data for advertising and resale.
- Violation of computer fraud laws (CFAA) and California regulations (CCPA).
Key Takeaways
- Trackers are undetectable and active even in Perplexity's private mode.
- Plaintiff accuses transmission of financial data for targeting.
- Lawsuit targets not only Perplexity but also Google and Meta.
- FTC may intervene due to growing focus on AI privacy.
- Previous lawsuits against Perplexity point to systemic issues.
— Editorial Team
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