Brooks et al. v. Thomson Reuters Corp (2021)
Background: Filed in March 2021, Brooks v. Thomson Reuters is a class-action lawsuit seeking redress and relief for Thomas Reuters collecting, without knowledge or consent, the private data of millions of Californians and selling this data to third parties through Thomson Reuters’ searchable CLEAR database and separately to private corporations, law enforcement, and government agencies — including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
As the complaint details, CLEAR’s “person search” function pulled up dossiers on individuals, including their addresses, phone numbers, criminal records, financial histories, relatives, photos, and even live cell phone records. The suit seeks relief for Thomson Reuters’ CLEAR database violating California’s consumer privacy, unfair competition, and right to publicity laws.
Impact: The case closed in February 2025 with a $27.5 million settlement agreement. Thomson Reuters agreed to change their business practices for the next four years, making it easier for Californians to request deletion of their data, and creating a public website explaining what information CLEAR collects. In 2026, California began implementing a new law protecting Californians from the collection and sale of their personal information and creating a pathway for individuals to regain control of their private data.
Media coverage: The Washington Post, SF Gate, Los Angeles Times
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