Data broker People Data Labs Inc. has agreed to pay $6.36 million to resolve a proposed class action alleging that it published Colorado residents’ cellphone numbers in an online directory without their consent.
The proposed settlement was reported on Oct. 30. The plaintiffs say the alleged conduct violated Colorado’s Prevention of Telemarketing Fraud Act, a state law aimed at unlawful telemarketing practices. The agreement still required a motion for final approval, according to the filing described in the report. A proposed class settlement is not the same as a final court judgment.
What the lawsuit alleges
The case centers on the alleged publication of personal cellphone numbers in an internet directory. The plaintiffs claim that People Data Labs placed or made those numbers available without the affected consumers’ permission. The allegations have not been established as findings of wrongdoing.
| Issue | Details reported |
|---|---|
| Defendant | People Data Labs Inc. |
| Proposed payment | $6.36 million |
| Consumers named in the claims | Colorado residents |
| Law cited | Colorado Prevention of Telemarketing Fraud Act |
| Settlement status | Motion for final approval filed |
A first under the Colorado law
The plaintiffs’ motion described the agreement as the first settlement of class claims brought under the Colorado statute. The development comes after dozens of federal lawsuits alleging violations of the law were filed beginning in 2024.
The litigation has reached beyond People Data Labs. The reported cases include claims against TransUnion LLC, Experian Information Solutions Inc., Oracle Corp. and Equifax Information Services. Those defendants are named in separate lawsuits; the report does not state that the proposed People Data Labs settlement resolves claims against any of them.
Why data-broker listings matter
Data brokers collect, organize or distribute information about individuals for use by other companies. A cellphone number can make a person easier to contact, identify or link with additional records. When such information is placed in a directory without permission, the legal question can include whether the disclosure violated a privacy or telemarketing statute.
- The proposed deal concerns alleged publication of Colorado residents’ cellphone numbers.
- The reported payment is $6.36 million.
- Separate federal cases have named several major credit-reporting and technology companies under the same Colorado law.
The settlement’s reported status is procedural: Plaintiffs filed a motion seeking final approval. Until a court grants that approval, the agreement remains a proposed resolution rather than a completed judgment. The report did not identify a claims process, payment amounts for individual class members or a deadline for consumers.
The case illustrates how state privacy and telemarketing laws can be used in litigation involving companies that collect and distribute personal contact information. Its broader significance will depend on the court’s action on the proposed agreement and on the outcome of the other lawsuits identified in the filings.
