Perplexity AI accused of embedding ‘undetectable’ trackers for secretly routing sensitive user data to Meta and Google

Perplexity AI has been hit with a proposed class-action lawsuit accusing the startup of surreptitiously sharing sensitive user data with Meta Platforms and Google. According to a report by Bloomberg, the lawsuit alleges that the AI search engine's actions are a direct violation of California privacy laws.

Notably, the lawsuit also states that users' personal data is transmitted to Meta and Google even when they specifically opt for Perplexity’s "Incognito" mode.

According to the complaint, the backdoor access allows Meta and Google to exploit this sensitive data for their own benefit, including targeting individuals with advertising and reselling their sensitive data to additional third parties.

The complaint also accuses Perplexity of embedding ‘undetectable’ tracking software into its search engine's code, which automatically transmits users' conversations to Meta, Google, and other third parties.

The lawsuit filed in a San Francisco federal court also accuses Meta and Google of violating federal and state privacy and fraud laws.

According to the filing, the man shared highly sensitive information with the chatbot, including details about his family’s finances, tax obligations, and personal investment strategies.

Meanwhile, Perplexity spokesperson Jesse Dwyer told the news agency, “We have not been served any lawsuit that matches this description, so we are unable to verify its existence or claims,” said Jesse Dwyer, a Perplexity spokesperson.

The e-commerce giant also won a major victory in the case recently as a federal judge temporarily blocked Perplexity from accessing Amazon via its Comet browser.