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Tesla Hit With Class Action Lawsuit for Violating Customers Privacy

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2 years ago

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Violating Customers' Privacy tesla

A Tesla owner in California filed a potential class action lawsuit against the electric manufacturer on Friday, accusing it of violating customers’ privacy. The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California after Reuters reported on Thursday that between 2019 and 2022, groups of Tesla employees privately shared sometimes highly invasive videos and images recorded by customers’ car cameras via an internal messaging system.

The lawsuit, filed by Henry Yeh, a San Francisco resident who drives a Tesla Model Y, claims that Tesla personnel had access to the photographs and videos for their “tasteless and tortious entertainment” and “humiliation of those secretly recorded.”

“Like any reasonable person, Mr. Yeh was outraged at the prospect of Tesla’s cameras being used to violate his family’s privacy, which the California Constitution scrupulously protects,” Jack Fitzgerald, an attorney representing Yeh, told Reuters.

“Tesla must be held accountable for these invasions and for misleading him and other Tesla owners about its lax privacy practices,” Fitzgerald said. Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

According to the lawsuit, Tesla’s behavior is “particularly egregious” and “highly offensive.”

It stated that Yeh was launching the action “on behalf of himself, similarly situated class members, and the general public” against Tesla. According to the complaint, the prospective class would comprise those who owned or leased a Tesla within the last four years.

tesla

Reuters said several Tesla employees witnessed clients “doing laundry and intimate things.” “We could see their kids,” a former employee said.

“Indeed, one of the most fundamental liberty interests society recognizes is parents’ interest in their children’s privacy,” the lawsuit stated.

The lawsuit requests that the court “enjoin Tesla from engaging in wrongful behavior, including violating customers’ and others’ privacy, and to recover actual and punitive damages.”

Meanwhile, the Financial Review reports that Tesla has reduced the price of all its vehicles in the United States after price decreases during the first quarter increased sales.

The business reduced the price of its higher-volume Model 3 and Y electric vehicles by $US1000 ($1500) and the price of its more expensive Model S and X vehicles by $US5000. It also debuted a new base model of the Model Y, beginning at $US49,990.

Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, has stated that he is willing to sacrifice profitability to continue growing in the face of rising interest rates and a possible recession.

tesla

Tesla is in the unusual position of having large profit margins to work with among EV manufacturers, as incumbents such as Ford Motor and younger entrants like Rivian Automotive and Lucid Group struggle to make money at lower volumes.

Musk stated at a January 25 earnings conference that orders were running at nearly twice the rate of manufacturing following Tesla’s initial lineup-wide price decreases earlier this year. However, the business could not maintain that supply-demand dynamic: deliveries increased by roughly 4% over the previous quarter, and Tesla produced nearly 18,000 more cars than it delivered to consumers.

Despite a second round of Model S and X discounts in early March, Tesla delivered just 10,695 units in the quarter, the lowest number since the third quarter of 2021. Following the most recent improvements, Tesla has reduced the price of each vehicle by at least $US20,000 and up to $US34,000 since the beginning of the year.

Earlier this year, the US carmaker reduced vehicle prices in China, sparking a pricing war in the world’s largest new-energy vehicle market. According to preliminary data given earlier this week by China’s Passenger Car Association, it exported 88,869 vehicles from its Shanghai production in March.

In China, a basic Model 3 costs 229,900 yuan ($33,400), while the Model Y costs 261,900 yuan ($38,086).

While Tesla continues to outsell other automakers in global EV sales, it faces greater competition than ever from China’s BYD Co, with BloombergNEF analysts anticipating the Berkshire Hathaway-backed manufacturer to challenge for the top spot this year.

Tesla must also ramp up the pace to continue growing at the rate that investors have come to expect. Last year, the corporation fell short of its aim of a 50% average annual increase in car deliveries, instead rising by 40%. Its growth rate fell to 36% in the first quarter.

On April 19, the Austin, Texas-based corporation will announce earnings.

In a proxy statement filed on Thursday, Tesla said that it is seeking shareholders to appoint JB Straubel, its former chief technology officer, to its board of directors to reorganize the carmaker’s senior management structure.

Straubel would succeed Hiromichi Mizuno, who has stated that he will not run for reelection. Tom Zhu, the driving force behind Tesla’s Shanghai plant, has also been named senior vice president for automotive operations.

The proposal to elect Straubel is one of five topics the firm has requested investors to vote on at its annual meeting on May 16. In contrast to the eight shareholder proposals considered in 2022, the proxy contains only one.

According to the filing, Musk did not receive a salary in 2022.

The proxy also provides an update on the number of shares Musk has pledged as collateral for the debt he has taken on, which is around 238 million, or 58% of his total shares. That amount is up from 52% when Tesla submitted its annual report in August 2022, when he had approximately 268 million shares pledged. The document also contains details regarding a change in its pledging policy, which limits the amount of loan Musk can promise.

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Geoff Brown is a seasoned staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. With his sharp writing skills he consistently delivers high-quality, engaging content that resonates with readers. Geoff's' articles are well-researched, informative, and written in a clear, concise style that keeps audiences hooked. His ability to craft compelling narratives while seamlessly incorporating relevant keywords has made him a valuable asset to the VORNews team.

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Sonic the Hedgehog Dominates Christmas Wish Lists

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2 days ago

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2024-12-21

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Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog Merchandise are hot Christmas Items

Sonic the Hedgehog is dominating Christmas wish lists this year. The lovable blue hedgehog is back in the spotlight, from sonic the hedgehog toys and games to sonic the hedgehog coloring pages and movie hype.

Sonic-themed holiday merchandise is on fire, from quirky sweaters to action figures flying off shelves. Sonic the Hedgehog Christmas outfits for kids are selling out fast, making them a go-to gift option for festive fun.

Retailers have been quick to recognize Sonic’s holiday appeal. Special promotions and exclusive items, like the Sonic holiday t-shirts, are everywhere.

Everyone’s stocking up on Sonic merchandise, from big-box stores to boutique retailers.

Online shopping platforms are seeing a surge in searches for Sonic items. Whether it’s Sonic Christmas-themed tops or Sonic the Hedgehog coloring pages, Sonic the Hedgehog toys or Sonic and the Hedgehog 3, the demand is skyrocketing.

Retailers who tap into this trend are sure to see strong holiday sales.

Sonic has been around since the early 90s, but his popularity never wanes. With the release of Sonic 3, fans are more excited than ever.

sonic the hedgehog 4

Sonic the Hedgehog 4

Meanwhile, Paramount Pictures is preparing “Sonic the Hedgehog 4,” with the newest addition in the family-friendly genre set for a spring 2027 release.

The announcement comes as “Sonic 3” opens in theatres on Friday, estimated to gross $55 million to $60 million from 3,800 North American locations.

The sequel is shaping up to be a good holiday season blockbuster for Paramount, which explains the desire in future “Sonic” adventures. On the international front, the film will be released on Christmas Day in 52 markets.

On Rotten Tomatoes, critics gave “Sonic 3” an outstanding 87% fresh score.

The first two films grossed a total of $725.2 million at the global box office and generated over $180 million in global consumer expenditure through home entertainment rentals and digital purchases.

They also inspired a spinoff Paramount+ series, “Knuckles,” which premiered earlier this year.

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Amazon Strike Called By Teamsters Union 10,000 Walkout

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3 days ago

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2024-12-20

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Amazon Strike Called By Teamsters Union
Teamsters members were demonstrating at "hundreds" of other Amazon locations.

An Amazon strike has hit facilities in the United States in an effort by the Teamsters union to pressure the corporation for a labour agreement during a peak shopping season.

The Teamsters union told the Associated Press that Amazon delivery drivers at seven facilities in the United States walked off the job on Thursday after the firm failed to discuss a labour contract.

According to the union, Amazon employees in Teamsters union jackets were protesting at “hundreds” of additional Amazon facilities, which the union billed as the “largest strike” in US history involving the company.

The corporation, which employs over 800,000 people in its US delivery network, stated that its services will be unaffected.

It was unclear how many people, including members of Germany’s United Services Union, participated in Thursday’s demonstration. The Teamsters union reported that thousands of Amazon employees were implicated in the United States.

Amazon Strike at 10 Locations

Overall, the group claims to represent “nearly 10,000” Amazon strikers, having signed up thousands of people at roughly ten locations across the country, many of whom have joined in recent months.

The organization has claimed recognition from Amazon going on strike, claiming the firm illegally neglected its obligation to bargain collectively over salary and working conditions.

The Teamsters is a long-standing US union with nearly one million members. It is well-known for securing lucrative contracts for its members at companies like delivery behemoth UPS.

Most of the Teamsters’ Amazon campaigns have concerned drivers working for third-party delivery companies that partner with the tech behemoth.

Amazon denies that it is liable as an employer in those circumstances, which is a point of legal contention. In at least one case, labour officials have taken a preliminary stance in favour of the union.

Stalled Contract Negotiations

Amazon employees at a major warehouse on Staten Island in New York have also chosen to join the Teamsters. Their warehouse is the only Amazon facility in the United States where labour officials have formally recognized a union win.

However, the Amazon strike is because contract negotiations have not progressed since the 2022 vote. It was not one of the areas scheduled to go on strike on Thursday.

Amazon, one of the largest employers in the United States, has long received criticism for its working conditions and has been the target of activists seeking to gain traction among its employees.

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Amazon Encounters Numerous Strikes As Unions Aim At The Holiday Shopping Surge.

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3 days ago

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2024-12-19

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Amazon

(VOR News) – Thousands of Amazon employees at various sites across the country were scheduled to go on strike on Thursday in an effort by the Teamsters union to pressure the retail behemoth to acknowledge its unionised workers in the United States.

The walkout is expected to concentrate on seven Amazon locations across the country during the holiday purchasing surge and may be the most significant union action against Amazon in the nation’s history.

The business announced on Thursday morning that there had been no effect on operations. It also stated that it is “continuing to concentrate on fulfilling customers’ holiday orders.”

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters maintains that it represents more than 10,000 Amazon employees and contractors in aviation centres, warehouses, and delivery centres.

Amazon has refused to acknowledge the union for many years.

The retail giant, which employs approximately 1.5 million individuals, excludes contractors and part-timers. A strike has been initiated by delivery couriers and warehouse employees at seven distinct locations in order to exert pressure on the company to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement that would encompass modifications to compensation, amenities, and working conditions.

Picketing was intended for New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Skokie, Illinois.

Also, the Teamsters assert that they are establishing picket lines at “hundreds” of additional warehouses and delivery centres by encouraging non-unionized workers to picket under U.S. labour law, which protects workers’ ability to take collective action to further their interests.

“Amazon workers are exercising their power,” Randy Korgan stated to NPR.

“They now realise there is a pathway to take on a corporate giant like this – and that they hold the power.” Amazon responds by accusing the Teamsters of fabricating information regarding the strikes, asserting that the participants are “entirely” outsiders rather than employees or subcontractors of the corporation.

Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel stated that “the reality is that they were unable to secure sufficient support from our employees and partners and have invited external parties to harass and intimidate our team.” For more than a year, the Teamsters have been intentionally misleading the public by claiming to represent “thousands of employees and drivers.” They do not.

The Teamsters did not provide a specific duration for the strike; however, they informed NPR that it would extend beyond one day. Workers would receive $1,000 per week in strike money, as per the union.

Teamsters President Sean O’Brien issued a statement in which he stated, “If your package is delayed during the holidays, you can attribute it to Amazon’s insatiable greed.” We established a firm deadline for Amazon to attend the meeting and treat our members equitably. They disregarded it.

The Teamsters granted until December 15 to convene with its unionised employees and develop a collective bargaining agreement.

Amazon has opposed all unionisation efforts in court, asserting that unions were not advantageous to its employees and emphasising the compensation and benefits that the organisation currently provides.

Amazon has been accused of discriminatory labour practices on numerous occasions, including the termination of labour organisers. Furthermore, it has disputed its official status as a contract employer.

Teamsters organize Amazon delivery couriers and other employees.

In June, Amazon established its first unionised warehouse in Staten Island, New York, two years after making history by voting to join the fledgling Amazon Labour Union, which is also affiliated with the Teamsters.

The union is one of the most influential in the United States and Canada, with 1.3 million members. On Thursday, the German United Services Union declared that Amazon employees in Germany would participate in a strike in conjunction with their American counterparts.

In the past, Amazon has experienced demonstrations in Germany and Spain that were related to the holiday season in order to advocate for improved wages and working conditions.

“The holiday season has arrived.” Delivery is anticipated. Patricia Campos-Medina, the executive director of Cornell University’s Worker Institute, asserts that “this is the moment in which workers have control over the supply chain.”

The Teamsters have reported that Amazon’s profits have increased both during and after the pandemic. The corporation is currently valued at over $2.3 trillion, with net income of $15 billion in the most recent quarter alone. It is the second-largest private employer in the United States, following Walmart.

SOURCE: NPR

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