Meta Platforms NASDAQ:META won an early victory after a federal judge dismissed a privacy lawsuit accusing WhatsApp of misleading users about the security of their messages.
The proposed class action, brought by non-U.S. plaintiffs, claimed Meta stores WhatsApp message data and allows employees to intercept, read and retain private communications. Those allegations relied heavily on accounts from unnamed whistleblowers.
Judge Rita Lin found the complaint did not provide enough detail about how the whistleblowers obtained their information or establish that Meta intentionally misled users. However, she dismissed the case with permission to amend, meaning the plaintiffs can refile if they provide stronger factual support.
The judge also rejected Meta's request to sanction the plaintiffs for bringing what the company described as a factually baseless case.
The plaintiffs have until August 13 to address weaknesses involving the whistleblowers' reliability, the alleged harm and Meta's specific misrepresentations.