The Warriors want to hear what their fans have to say — at all times, apparently.
A lawsuit filed in federal court in San Francisco this week alleges the team's official mobile app accesses microphones on fans' smartphones to listen in on and potentially record private conversations, even while users are idle.
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Upon downloading the free app, which promises "the easiest way to stay current with schedules, scores and news," fans are prompted to grant permission to use the microphone, but, according to the lawsuit, the team does not make clear a reason why the access is needed. Thus a fan may consent without understanding the app's full capabilities.
"Even more disconcerting (is) the app turns on the microphone (listening and recording) any time the app is running," plaintiffs' lawyers wrote in the suit. "No matter if a consumer is actively using the app or if it is merely running in the background: the app is listening."
The lawsuit documents, first obtained by The Reporter, name the Warriors and two third-party developers as defendants.
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Lawyers claim the app includes a "beacon" technology that enables it to track users' locations through the smartphone's microphone. Such location-based information is gathered to send ads to users and for other marketing purposes.
Signal360, the company that licenses the "beacon" technology, denied the allegations to the San Jose Mercury News.
“We have been made aware of the suit and it appears there is a misunderstanding about how our technology works,” the statement said. “Our technology does not intercept, store, transmit, or otherwise use any oral content for marketing purposes or for any other purpose.”
A Warriors spokesperson declined to comment, citing a team policy about pending litigation.
