Class action filed against Marriott in High Court of England and Wales
Marriott International, a hotel chain, is facing a class action case brought by millions of former guests. Marriott suffered a data breach when its database was hacked between 2014 and 2018. The UK’s Information Commissioner, (the ICO) said at the time that approximately 339 million guest records globally were exposed, and announced its intention to fine the company £99.2 million last year. However, it has failed to do that so far.
The claim is being brought by an individual named Martin Bryant, who is the founder of technology and media consultancy, Big Revolution, and will be supported by Hausfeld law firm. The case is funded by Harbour Litigation.
Edward Machin, a lawyer in Ropes & Gray’s Privacy, Data Protection and Cybersecurity team said:
“Although there is a limited sample size, today’s announcement is further evidence that the UK is edging towards a US-style litigation landscape in which, almost as a matter of course, collective actions are launched shortly after data breaches become public knowledge. That a respected third-party funder is backing the claim also suggests that data-related actions will likely come to be seen as fertile ground for enforcing individuals’ privacy rights in the UK, irrespective of whether regulatory enforcement is also being pursued in relation to the incident.”
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