Bose Headphone Lawsuit – Are They Spying On Customers?

Is Bose Using an App to Spy on Customers?

Back in April of 2017, Bose found themselves in the middle of a lawsuit where a customer alleged that they had collected personal, private data through the usage of the BoseConnect app that came with the purchase of a pair of expensive headphones. The claim that Bose is spying on customers was news to me and it deserves more than 10 minutes in the spotlight.

The BoseConnect app is sold as a way to “get the most out of your headphones” but it looks like you might instead be “getting way more than you asked for” out of your headphones.

Bose Allegedly Collecting Private Data To Sell To The Highest Bidder

Allegedly, Bose was collecting the above-mentioned data and selling it to third parties such as marketers and data mining companies.

In a world of constant surveillance, companies should at the very least, be upfront about what the customer is buying and what they will get out of the purchase.

Dishonesty gets overlooked sometimes but it can severely damage the reputation of not only an individual but also a huge company.

The lawsuit that was filed was seeking more than $5,000,000 in damages.

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What Do Lawsuits Like This Mean For The Consumer?

Although it’s common for corporations to have legal suits brought against them, it’s a little bit alarming that this news was not magnified more than it was.

As a customer of many different companies myself, I would like to know that my private information will not be shared for the sake of profit on behalf of the company.

If I was told beforehand that my information would be used in such a way, I would probably search elsewhere for business.

Bose is not the only tech company that has been filed against for similar claims, but in an ever-increasing technologically integrated society, it might be a hard pill to swallow that companies are going to continue collecting data for whatever purpose they choose to use it for.

 

Should We Keep Buying Despite These Claims?

Although it hasn’t been proven yet that Bose is actually doing what is alleged, it should at least raise some eyebrows. Is there anything that we as consumers can do about this increasing trend or should we allow the behavior to continue without having anything to say about it?