California courts are increasingly handling class action lawsuits alleging that cookies and other web technologies violate privacy laws by collecting personal data without consent. A key issue in these cases is whether California courts can exercise personal jurisdiction over out-of-state companies operating location-neutral websites.
A recent ruling from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is raising the stakes for any business that operates a website collecting user data. In Briskin v. Shopify, decided in April 2025, the court held that California courts can exercise personal jurisdiction over an out-of-state company—Shopify—for allegedly collecting personal data from a California resident without proper disclosure or consent. This decision signals a significant shift in how courts view digital jurisdiction in the age of online commerce and widespread data collection.
Recent Updates
- The Blue Tsunami: Weathering Congressional Investigations Poised to Dominate the Remainder of Trump’s Term
- AI Standing Orders in Ohio Federal Courts: Scope and Proof of Violations
- The Courthouse Banned Your AI Glasses: What New York’s Smart Glasses Rule Means for Litigants and Counsel
- Fall 2026 SCOTUS Preview: Cases to Watch
- Same Trade Secret Dispute, Different Injunction Standards: PCC Airfoils v. Daugherty, et al., and Forum Choice in Ohio