X targetted in Dutch mass claim lawsuit over data leaks, consumer protection violations

A Dutch non-profit organization announced on Friday it will file a mass claim lawsuit against social media platform X “for gross violations of fundamental rights regarding data protection and consumer protection.” The Foundation for Market Information Research (SOMI) previously filed claims against both TikTok and Facebook parent company Meta Platforms.

The organization is now recruiting users of X, including those who joined when it was known as Twitter, to join the lawsuit. SOMI accused Elon Musk’s social media firm of failing to take measures to make the X platform a safe space, and includes claims that date back to the months before Musk acquired Twitter.

Since January 2022, there have been at least four data leaks at Twitter and X, according to SOMI. The personal data of the platform’s users also ended up on the dark web. Furthermore, the foundation accused X of falling short in combating hate speech in tweets, posts and replies.

In addition, SOMI raised issue with the fact that X offers advertisers the opportunity to market their content in a highly targeted manner based on users’ sensitive personal data. This includes political views and religious beliefs, the organization claimed.

“It is clear that X has acted unlawfully and has unjustly enriched itself at the expense of its users. These practices have caused damage. Therefore, SOMI demands cessation of the unlawful conduct and compensation on behalf of the affected X users,” SOMI wrote in a press release.

The amount of compensation it said users are owed was not mentioned. SOMI will first try to gather users for the lawsuit using an online registration portal.

X had not responded to the lawsuit as of Friday afternoon. Last year, SOMI already said it wanted to claim 500 euros in damages for every Dutch Facebook user for privacy violations. A few years ago, the data of more than half a billion Facebook users worldwide were leaked to hackers, who then ran off with it and even offered telephone numbers for sale.

The case previously launced against TikTok revolves around the collection of data from children, so that they are shown targeted advertisements without proper authorization. Parents believe that the app did not have the safety and privacy of their children in mind, and in an earlier statement, SOMI said it would claim up to 1.4 billion euros in damages.