Sex Toy Company Will Pay $3.75 Million to Settle Spying Claim Standard Innovation, which makes the We-Vibe vibrator, collected user data without permission, a lawsuit alleged.

By Tom Brant

This story originally appeared on PCMag

via engadget

The Canadian maker of an internet-connected sex toy has agreed to pay $3.75 million to settle claims that it collected users' data without their permission.

The We-Vibe Rave, from Ottawa-based Standard Innovation, is a Bluetooth- and Wi-Fi-compatible vibrator that allegedly recorded settings and usage data to transmit to the company's servers, according to Canadian newswire Postmedia.

Two women filed a class-action lawsuit against Standard Innovation last fall, claiming that the company's data collection violated their privacy rights. Standard Innovation settled without admitting wrongdoing, Postmedia reported.

Under the terms of the settlement, each customer who bought a We-Vibe and used its companion app, called We-Connect, is entitled to up to $10,000. Customers who didn't use the app can claim up to $199.

Standard Innovation said in a statement that it has also agreed to change its privacy policy and data collection practices to allow customers to use its app without supplying personally-identifiable information and to opt out of sharing anonymous data.

"Customers do not provide their name, email or phone number or other identifying information to use We-Connect," the company said in a statement emailed to PCMag.

The We-Vibe website was not accessible on Tuesday afternoon, but the product's page on Amazon offered a few for sale from third-party retailers starting at $70, and explained how We-Connect works: in addition to controlling the vibrator remotely via the internet (say, if your partner is in another city), a "Sync" function allows you to coordinate the vibrator to your music playlist.

The We-Vibe settlement comes a little more than one month after TV maker Vizio admitted to a similar data collection program that spied on users. Vizio agreed to pay $2.2 million to settle those claims.

Wavy Line
Tom Brant

News reporter

Tom is PCMag's San Francisco-based news reporter. 

Editor's Pick

A Leader's Most Powerful Tool Is Executive Capital. Here's What It Is — and How to Earn It.
Lock
One Man's Casual Side Hustle Became an International Phenomenon — And It's on Track to See $15 Million in Revenue This Year
Lock
3 Reasons to Keep Posting on LinkedIn, Even If Nobody Is Engaging With You
Why a Strong Chief Financial Officer Is Crucial for Your Franchise — and What to Look for When Hiring One

Related Topics

Business News

The World's Richest Man Just Surpassed a $200 Billion Fortune

Bernard Arnault is just the third man in history to reach this landmark.

Growing a Business

The Best Way to Run a Business Meeting

All too often, meetings run longer than they should and fail to keep attendees engaged. Here's how to run a meeting the right way.

Fundraising

Working Remote? These Are the Biggest Dos and Don'ts of Video Conferencing

As more and more businesses go remote, these are ways to be more effective and efficient on conference calls.

Business News

The Virgin Islands Want to Serve Elon Musk a Subpoena, But They Can't Find Him

Government officials would like to talk to Tesla's owner as part of an investigation into the Jeffrey Epstein case.

Starting a Business

5 Tips For Launching a Business While Keeping Your Day Job

Launching a business while holding down a 9-to-5 is no small feat. It's a common path for aspiring entrepreneurs, but it's not without its challenges.

Business News

Bankrupt Wine Company Owes Millions In Bottles, Customers Left Wondering What Went Wrong and Where the Wine Went

Underground Cellar aimed to revolutionize how wine enthusiasts purchased and stored wine. However, the company's abrupt shutdown has customers seething with questions — and anger — about millions of dollars owed in wine.