In a dramatic legal battle that could reshape online privacy norms, a California resident has filed a lawsuit against a well-known wedding registry website for allegedly engaging in deceptive and invasive data practices. On May 8, 2025, Rebeka Rodriguez lodged her complaint in the Superior Court of California, County of Ventura, accusing Zola, Inc., operating as www.zola.com, of violating the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA) and related common law claims.
The lawsuit unfolds with allegations that Zola, Inc. misled its users by assuring them of privacy protection while secretly collaborating with Nexxen, a notorious data broker. The complaint highlights how Zola's website employed the "Nexxen Tracking Pixel," an invisible tool that surreptitiously gathered detailed personal information from site visitors without their consent. This data was then sold to third parties for profit. Rodriguez's filing argues that this practice not only deceives consumers but also constitutes an egregious breach of privacy rights under California law. "Defendant lures visitors to its website by assuring consumers that ‘Zola, Inc., our subsidiaries and our affiliates ... respect your concerns about privacy,’" the complaint states, only to reveal that the company engages in secretive tracking activities.
Rodriguez's legal team contends that these actions are highly offensive to reasonable individuals and violate established social norms regarding digital privacy. The plaintiff emphasizes the potential harm posed by such intrusive surveillance tactics, citing risks like identity theft and targeted harassment. The complaint further accuses Zola of exploiting user trust for financial gain through manipulative advertising strategies enabled by detailed consumer profiles built from harvested data.
The lawsuit seeks various forms of relief from the court, including actual and statutory damages as well as reasonable attorneys' fees and costs. Additionally, Rodriguez requests an injunction to halt what she describes as unlawful conduct by Zola and demands all other just and proper remedies under law or equity.
Representing Rebeka Rodriguez is Scott J. Ferrell from Pacific Trial Attorneys based in Newport Beach, CA. The case is presided over in the Ventura Superior Court under Case No. 2OPSCUCRO4ASSBS.