Apple faces tracking lawsuit

Today Online reports.

Owners of iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches may pursue claims against Apple under two California consumer protection laws, US district judge Lucy Koh, in San Jose, California, said in a decision on Tuesday. Koh oversees nationwide litigation combining 19 lawsuits.

But Koh threw out privacy claims addressing records disclosure, computer fraud and the Federal Wiretap Act, which provides for fines of a minimum of $100 each day of any violation, or $10 000, whichever is greater, Law.com writes.

Koh also dismissed all claims against other defendants in the case, including Google AdMarval Admob, Flurry and Medialets.

The lawsuit followed an April 2011 presentation from two computer programmers whose research showed that iPhone users' movements were being monitored through their devices, BBC notes.

That provoked a firestorm in which regulators demanded changes, which Apple promised to make.