The Foundation has the support of the Consumentenbond, the largest organisation in the Netherlands that stands up for consumers’ interests. With its large member network the Consumentenbond advocates for fair, just, and safe markets and combats consumer abuses. Safeguarding consumers’ right to privacy is a high priority on the Consumentenbond’s agenda. The Consumentenbond has taken action against Google before concerning its covert tracking of consumers’ location data, and filed a complaint to stop this conduct. You can find more information about these efforts on its website.
The Foundation and the Consumentenbond jointly called on members of the constituency to support the action via its website. The Foundation and the Consumentenbond formalised their relationship and entered into a cooperation agreement in 2022. The Foundation, with the support of the Consumentenbond, will use best efforts to (1) pressure Google to change its practices so that it no longer violates users’ rights, and (2) obtain financial compensation for the Aggrieved Parties.
Lemstra Van der Korst N.V. acts as counsel to the Foundation in the proceedings against Google relating to privacy and consumer violations and advises the Foundation on various legal matters.
Pels Rijcken & Droogleever Fortuijn N.V. acts as counsel to the Foundation on substantive law issues involving Google’s privacy violations in the Netherlands.
For the benefit of the Aggrieved Parties, Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, the Funder, finances the activities of the Foundation that are related to the legal action against Google. To this effect, the Foundation and the Funder have entered into a funding agreement. The Funder bears the entire financial risk of the Action but does not decide the Foundation’s policy or course of action. The Foundation’s Board operates independently from the Funder. The Foundation and the Funder have agreed that the Funder can also support the Foundation in performing marketing and advertising activities, with website operations, and by providing assistance and consultation on other matters, but only if and to the extent it is instructed to do so by the Foundation and as such solely within the scope of such instructions.
In exchange for the funding and services it may provide (if and to the extent instructed by the Foundation), the Funder will be eligible to receive compensation, a so-called litigation funding fee. This is payable only if the Foundation receives a recovery in the interests of the Aggrieved Parties. In the event no recovery is obtained, no payment is due to the Funder.
The Funder has separately entered into a funding agreement with the Consumentenbond, pursuant to which the Funder compensates the Consumentenbond for its efforts in the interests of the Aggrieved Parties. As to the Consumentenbond, the Funder also does not decide its policy. The Consumentenbond operates independently from the Funder.
Read more about the core values of the Foundation and about the fee for the Funder.
The Foundation has mandated Consumentenbond Claimservice B.V. (CCS) to facilitate and establish the registration process, maintenance, and support of your claim. Under the Foundation’s mandate, CCS will collect your personal data on behalf of the Foundation, which will remain responsible for the data. This implies that the Foundation will be the controller and CCS will be the processor on behalf of the Foundation.