A class action lawsuit has been filed against Storm8, the developer of popular iPhone video games such as iMobsters, Vampires Live, and World War, alleging that the applications maker collected the phone numbers of millions of its customers without their consent.
The lawsuit alleges that Storm8 exploited a "backdoor" electronically--meaning it accessed the phone numbers of the iPhones on which its games were installed--a practice Apple does not authorize App makers to do. According to the lawsuit, every time an iPhone user downloaded a Storm8 game, a piece of malicious software code captured the phone number of the iPhone to which it was downloaded, and transmitted the number back to Storm8.
After the media began reporting the issue in late August, Storm8 admitted it was doing so and that it would cease harvesting phone numbers. The suit is brought by Michael Turner from the Seattle area. Mr. Turner downloaded several Storm8 games to his iPhone.
The class action seeks injunctive relief and monetary damages for harvesting the personal information of millions of people.
