Future of Sex
tagline
  • Remote Sex
  • Virtual Sex & Entertainment
  • Robots
  • Human Augmentation
  • Sex Tech
  • Dating & Relationships
  • Bizarre Bazaar 18+
  • Future of Sex Community
  • Remote Sex
  • Virtual Sex & Entertainment
  • Robots
  • Human Augmentation
  • Sex Tech
  • Dating & Relationships
  • Bizarre Bazaar 18+
  • Future of Sex Community
  • Machinery of Joy: Is AI Already Making Sexwork Obsolete?

  • Tomorrow’s Programmable Matter Sextoys Will Be Everything We Want—Whenever We Want It

  • Men’s Only Club: Does the Synthetic Companion Industry Really Have a Sexism Problem?

  • Red States, Risqué Secrets: Who’s Really Obsessing Over Sex?

  • No Hentai, Please: Japan Prosecutes AI Porn Prompters

  • Out of Sight, Out of Touch? Sweden Moves to Ban Adult Cam Performers

  • Spin Me Right Round: Cupsland’s Twirl Does Everything A Stroker Should—And More

  • We-Vibe Sextech Report: Talk, Grab a Toy, and Enjoy

Future of Sex is supported by our readers. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Home > Sex Tech > Sex Toy Maker We-Vibe Agrees to $3.75m Settlement in Privacy Lawsuit

Remote SexSex Tech
Home›Remote Sex›Sex Toy Maker We-Vibe Agrees to $3.75m Settlement in Privacy Lawsuit

Sex Toy Maker We-Vibe Agrees to $3.75m Settlement in Privacy Lawsuit

By M. Christian
March 21, 2017
2598
4

Company allegedly collected intimate data without consent.

Standard Innovation, the Canadian manufacturer of the Internet-connected We-Vibe vibrator, has agreed to pay $3.75 million to settle a privacy lawsuit that alleged it had collected intimate user data without permission.

The We-Vibe is a line of Internet-connected “smart” sex toys that connect, via Bluetooth, to the We-Connect—a proprietary app to allow users to control devices remotely and create custom vibration modes.

According to the agreement, Standard Innovation will pay up to $199 to each person who bought a We-Vibe sex toy before Sept. 26, 2016. Customers who used the We-Connect app to control the vibrator will receive up to $10,000 each. However, Standard Innovation denies any wrongdoing.

The settlement comes after a long series of technical, financial, and legal setbacks for the company.

Beginning with a hack

Standard Innovation’s difficulties began in August 2016 when, at the hacker convention DEF CON, a pair of New Zealand-based speakers revealed that the We-Vibe’s internet security was seriously lacking, allowing practically anyone to access a user’s personal data.

Security again came up in September 2016, when a woman identified only as N.P. sued the Canadian-based company in Illinois Federal Court for collecting, without user consent, personal information such as dates of sex toy use, time, duration, temperature, and even the IP addresses of smartphone users.

Being upfront about sharing

The crux of the suit, though, was less about sharing this information as it was about Standard

Innovation being upfront about it. As we reported earlier, the attorney representing N.P., Eve-Lynn Rapp of Edelson PC said: “When they [Windows or Apple] wants to track your diagnostic information about how you read your word document they actually ask you. It is usually something like, ‘we see your computer has shut down, can we send your diagnostics to Microsoft for analysis?’ There is nothing like that over here in this lawsuit.”

While not directly addressing the suit, Standard Innovation did post to its company blog in October of 2016 that it had upgraded the We-Connect app to better protect user security:
[box type=”shadow”][quote]

  • An option for customers to opt-out of sharing anonymous app usage data is available in the We-Connect settings
  • A new plain language Privacy Notice outlines how we collect and use data for the app to function and to improve We-Vibe products.

[/quote][/box]

The terms of the settlement

Then, in November 2016, came news that Standard Innovation was planning to settle with the plaintiff. Legally, this was a way for Standard Innovation to deal with the lawsuit without the matter proceeding to trial.

The exact nature of this settlement, however, just came to light—and it’s more than likely made manufacturers of Internet-connected devices, sexual or otherwise, pay attention.

Going forward: privacy

In addition to the monetary compensation, Standard Innovation has promised to erase all personal data it has collected. Going forward, it says it will only collect information that cannot be identified with any user. Finally, the company must clearly identify when it is collecting some forms of user data.

In response to the settlement, Standard Innovation made the following statement to MarketWatch:

“At Standard Innovation we take customer privacy and data security seriously. We have enhanced our privacy notice, increased app security, provided customers more choice in the data they share, and we continue to work with leading privacy and security experts to enhance the app. With this settlement, Standard Innovation can continue to focus on making new, innovative products for our customers.”

While more and more products join the Internet of things, it’s clear that companies need to be extra-careful about not just security but also about being upfront about what data they might be collecting. Security and confidentiality should always be at the forefront of any product, especially when they are sexually intimate.

Image sources: Joe Gratz, Yuri Samoilov

M. Christian

M.Christian (they/them) loves nothing better than exploring the intersections of sex and technology—and speculating on the future of both. A highly regarded erotica writer they have six novels,12 collections, 100+ short stories, and 25 anthologies as an editor to their name. Their non-fiction regularly appears in many sites, but they're most proud of being a regular contributor to Future of Sex.

Of their erotic fiction, Tristan Taormino said that “M.Christian is a literary stylist of the highest caliber: smart, funny, frightening, sexy—there's nothing [they] can't write about… and brilliantly.”

Reflecting their unique ability to sympathetically and convincingly write for a range of genders and sexual orientations, their stories have appeared in multiple editions of Best American Erotica, Best Gay Erotica, Best Lesbian Erotica, The Mammoth Books of Erotica, and others. Their collection of gay erotic fiction, Dirty Words, was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award.

While a majority of their stories have been collected into books like Dirty Words, their fondness for combining sex and science fiction is clearly evident in collections that include Rude Mechanicals, Technorotica, Better Than The Real Thing, Skin Effect Effect, Bachelor Machine, and Hard Drive: The Best Sci-Fi Erotica of M.Christian.

As a novelist, M.Christian’s versatility is on full display with Running Dry, The Very Bloody Marys, Brushes, Painted Doll; and the somewhat controversial queer BDSM/horror/thrillers Finger's Breadth, and Me2.

M.Christian has worked on the industry’s production side as an Associate Publisher for Renaissance E Books and as a Publisher for Digital Parchment Services. The latter dedicated to celebrating the works of science-fiction legends such as William Rotsler, Jerome Bixby, Jody Scott, Arthur Byron Cover, Ernest Hogan, and James Van Hise.

Covering topics like BDSM safety, sexual education, senior sexuality concerns, queer and gender issues, plus reviewing a variety of sex tech products, M.Christian’s non-fiction has appeared on sites like Kinkly, Tickle.Life, Sexpert, Queer Majority, Sex for Every Body, and—of course—their ongoing work for Future of Sex.

If there’s anything M.Christian enjoys more than writing, it’s teaching. A featured presenter, sometimes with their friend Ralph Greco Jr, at national sex and BDSM events, they have lectured on kink play (with an emphasis on safety), polyamory, boosting sexual creativity, and erotica writing--for beginners or those wanting to go pro.

M.Christian is a cohost on two popular sex-education podcasts: Love’s Outer Limits with Dr. Amy Marsh and Licking Non-Vanilla with Ralph Greco, Jr.
Previous Article

Give Us a Remote Hug! The Evolution ...

Next Article

VRotica: Headset Exclusively for Adult Content Aims ...

Related articles More from author

  • AugmentationSex Tech

    Genetic Engineering May Offer the Solution to Finally Create Male Birth Control

    January 28, 2018
    By M. Christian
  • Couple kissing in bed.
    Dating & RelationshipsSex Tech

    7 Underreported Issues Affecting the Future of Sex

    July 27, 2021
    By Jenna Owsianik
  • Screenshot of Universal Basic Income Banner
    Sex Tech

    Affording Pleasure: How Universal Basic Income Will Transform Sex

    February 24, 2021
    By M. Christian
  • Innovating Sustainable Infrastructure for Sex Tech in 2023
    Sex Tech

    2023: Innovating Sustainable Infrastructure for Sex Tech

    January 18, 2023
    By Laura Johnsen
  • Woman looking at a laptop in a bed. You can see a blurry European city outside of the window.
    Sex Tech

    Here’s How Often Each European Country Is Searching For Sex Toys Online

    November 10, 2022
    By Carolyn Stransky
  • Image of Arcwave’s Ion “Pleasure Air” stroker
    Sex Tech

    This Stroker Gives Female-like Orgasms to Trans People and Men

    January 17, 2021
    By Marcus K. Dowling

Leave a reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • Sex Science FictionRobotsSex Tech

    “Looking for Eos”—an Erotic Speculative Fiction Story

  • 11 projects to design the next generation condom were funded by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation last month.
    Sex Tech

    11 Next Generation Condoms Funded by the Gates Foundation

  • remotyca audio erotica covers
    Sex Tech

    Sex Tech News: Space Orgasms, Interactive Audio Erotica & Hologram Handshakes

Virtual Lust is a 3D interactive sex game.
3DXChat
Discover the best virtual sex parties and 3D sex worlds.
  • TOP REVIEWS

  • Multiplayer Online Sex Games

    Review of the Best Massively Multiplayer Online Sex Games

    0
  • Harmony ai sex doll from RealDoll

    State of the Sexbot Market: The World’s Best Sex Robot and AI Sex Doll Companies ...

  • Realistic Sex Games

    Review of the Best Sex Games and Most Realistic Sex Simulators [UPDATED]

    0
  • Screenshot of a sexbot from adult entertainment game

    The Best Adult Games on Steam [UPDATED]

  • Screenshot of FeelConnect app future of interactivity intimacy available on Apple and Google Store

    The Best Sex Game Apps for Couples [UPDATED]

Fantasy sex game Dream Sex World lets you explore your wildest desires.
Multiplayer sex world Red Light Center continues to impress with its massive userbase and incredible sex graphics.
A blonde and light-skinned love doll face sppears next to the text Go now realdollxthe future is real.

Like Us on Facebook

Newsletter Subscription

Sign up for our monthly newsletter sharing the very best of the future of sex from our publication and others across the web.

DreamSexWorld offers a stunning XXX 3D world filled with incredibly interactive erotic experiences.

Like Us On Facebook

Facebook Pagelike Widget

RLC_ad_v2

Tweets by @FutureofSex
Future of Sex Report

Follow us

  • Home
  • About
  • ADVERTISE
  • Contribute
  • Story Ideas
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
© 2011 - 2022 Future Exploration Network
This website or its third-party tools use cookies to improve user experience and track affiliate sales. To learn more about why we need to use cookies, please refer to the Privacy Policy.

By clicking the agree button or continuing to browse through the website, you agree to the use of cookies. Accept Privacy Policy
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
SAVE & ACCEPT