Perplexity’s AI search engine is accused of sharing user chat transcripts with Google and Meta without consent, according to a class-action lawsuit.
The suit alleges that even users who enable "Incognito Mode" are not protected, as conversations are still shared with Meta and Google, including personally identifiable information (PII).
The lawsuit claims Perplexity secretly embeds ad trackers-such as Meta Pixel, Google Ads, and Google DoubleClick-that transmit sensitive data like financial and health information.
These trackers allegedly operate surreptitiously, allowing Meta and Google to target users with ads or resell data.
The case, filed by anonymous user John Doe, covers chats from December 7, 2022, to February 4, 2026. It excludes Pro and Max subscribers.
Perplexity, Google, and Meta face potential fines and damages, with claims of unlawful data use and policy violations.
The lawsuit argues Perplexity never clearly informs users of this data sharing, hiding its privacy policy and failing to disclose tracker usage.