A proposed class action alleges the Mazda website kept collecting user data even after visitors opted out of tracking.
The suit was brought by two consumers who say clicking the site's "decline all" cookies option did not stop outside companies from following their activity.
Here's what to know
Plaintiffs Vishal Shah and Brian Heinz accused Mazda Motor of America in a California federal court of allowing MazdaUSA.com to transmit tracking information to third parties despite their efforts to refuse cookies, Top Class Actions reported.
The men say they used the site from 2022 through 2024 while shopping for vehicles, including CX series models and the CX-50, and that they hit "decline all" before continuing on the site, per Top Class Actions.
Their complaint focuses on the site's consent banner, which allegedly told visitors, "We use technologies to personalize and enhance your experience on our site. … If you agree to our use of these technologies, please select 'I Agree' below."
Shah and Heinz say that assurance did not hold up because cookies associated with Google's YouTube service and Adobe were installed anyway, which they allege could reveal their browsing history, shopping behavior, and even geolocation.
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The plaintiffs are seeking to represent a nationwide group of visitors who clicked "decline all" plus a California subclass, and they want the case decided by a jury, according to Top Class Actions.
What's being done?
The lawsuit could force Mazda to answer detailed questions about how its site handled consent and whether its cookie controls matched what visitors were told.
"Even when consumers like [the] plaintiffs tried to protect their privacy by declining 'ALL' cookies, [Mazda] failed to prevent cookies from being intercepted by the third parties, enabling them to track user behavior and communications," the lawsuit states, per Top Class Actions.
Where can I learn more?
The Mazda case boils down to a basic consumer question: Did the company do what it said it would do? These articles look at that same issue with examples of branding, labeling, and corporate messaging that critics say can leave people with the wrong impression.
• Branding experts showed how companies fool consumers with green claims that mask ordinary products.
• At Target, shoppers are being taught to spot greenwashing in everyday labels and ads.
• Inditex, Zara's parent, faced backlash after a concerning operational change coincided with shipping delays.
They point to the same underlying problem, that trust erodes when corporate claims do not match real-world practices.
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