Barings Law, specializing in data privacy claims has begun on-boarding clients for a potential class action against Microsoft and Google, accusing the tech giants of unlawfully collecting and using personal data to train artificial intelligence (AI).

It will pursue legal action against both companies for various data misuses, including the collection of user data such as voice recordings, demographics, app usage time, email addresses, email content, and more.

After nearly two years of investigation, Barings Law has uncovered evidence suggesting that a vast amount of data is being stored and possibly shared for the development of AI large language models.

In response to these findings, the firm has launched a national marketing campaign targeting individuals with Microsoft or Google accounts, or those who have used their services.

These platforms include but are not limited to; YouTube, Gmail, Gmail messages, Google Docs, browsing history, map searches, docs, LinkedIn, OneDrive, Outlook, Microsoft 365, Xbox and more. 

Barings Law expects to be inundated with thousands of sign-ups and plans to issue court proceedings at the beginning of 2025. 

With reports detailing more than 1.6 billion active Windows devices and over 1.8 billion Gmail users, this latest lawsuit will be no small feat, but one Barings Law has said it is not backing down from. 

The cyber security specialist firm has extensive experience in high-profile data breach cases, including the Capita cyber-attack, and it recently settled a high-profile data protection claim. 

Set to be groundbreaking in the data privacy claims sector, Barings Law’s Head of Data Breach, Adnan Malik, said the team are well prepared to take on the mammoth tech companies.

He continued: “This case is the Everest of data collection, but we are ready to fight for the right of secure privacy for Microsoft and Google users throughout the UK. 

“We are shocked and disgusted to learn about the level of data that has been and continues to be collected. 

“Both companies are collecting data such as the sports teams you follow, the programming languages you prefer, the stocks you track, your local weather or traffic, the route you take to work and what your voice sounds like.”

With the wide-spread use of artificial intelligence networks transforming the world as we know it, Mr Malik emphasised that this technology development must not come at the cost of privacy.

He added: “Individuals have the right to know what data of theirs is being stored and what it is being used for. 

They also have the right to opt out of their behaviours, voice, likeness, habits and knowledge being used to train AI- for the profit of tech giants.”

He continued: “As technologies continue to develop, individual data has become the most valuable commodity in the world.

“We know that it’s illegal to steal commodities like money, gold, oil. As a society we cannot accept that it’s acceptable to steal the commodity of personal data.”

As users become increasingly aware of this value, Mr Malik said he expects greater global push back against data collection and usage.

In the United States, OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, and Microsoft are being sued in a different class action lawsuit over allegations they violated the privacy of hundreds of millions of internet users by secretly scraping vast amounts of personal data to train an artificial intelligence chatbot. 

The lawsuit, filed on 28th June in federal court in San Francisco, seeks damages of USD $3 billion- a testament to the growing international concern for data security.  

Back in the United Kingdom, Mr Malik clarified that while the cases may be similar, Barings Law is bringing legal action against both Microsoft and Google, not OpenAI. 

He testifies that Barings Law will continue to step away from the crowd and fight for what is right. 

He added: “If you are shocked, upset, appalled, or annoyed that your data is being used without your knowledge and consent, my message to you is simple – do something about it by joining the fight. Sign up today and let’s take the future of our data and AI into our own hands.”