Silicon Valley just got served a hot slice of privacy justice, and it’s delicious. A San Francisco jury just handed Meta a major legal smackdown after the tech giant was caught eavesdropping on users of a popular period-tracking app.

Privacy? What Privacy?

Flo, a period and fertility tracking app, allegedly shared users’ most intimate details with Meta (formerly Facebook) without their consent. We’re talking seriously personal data - sex lives, mental health, menstrual cycles - all served up to tech bros on a silver platter. The case stems from a 2021 lawsuit where eight women said enough is enough.

The Courtroom Takedown

The jury unanimously ruled that Meta violated the California Invasion of Privacy Act, essentially telling the tech giant that users’ personal information isn’t just another commodity to be bought and sold. More than 3.7 million Flo app users could be impacted by this landmark decision.

A Warning to Big Tech

Plaintiffs’ lawyers called this a “wake-up call” to companies that treat user consent like a mere checkbox. Meta, predictably, is crying foul and “exploring legal options” - translation: we’re gonna fight this tooth and nail. But the message is crystal clear: your users’ privacy matters, and we’re not letting you get away with digital surveillance anymore.