Lloyd v Google LLC
Decision date: 10 November 2021
Neutral citation: [2021] UKSC 50
Court: United Kingdom Supreme Court
Insurance classification confidence: high
Overall AI summary confidence: high
Short overview
A short description of the case, material issue, and outcome where supported by the judgment.
AI confidence in this overview: high
This case concerns a claim by Mr Lloyd seeking to represent millions of iPhone users in damages under the Data Protection Act 1998 for Google's alleged "Safari workaround" tracking. The central issue was whether compensation for "loss of control" of personal data can be awarded on a uniform, non‑individualised basis and whether the claim was suitable as a representative action. The Supreme Court held the claim had no real prospect of success because, to recover compensation under the Act for any individual, it was necessary to prove unlawful use of that individual's personal data by Google and that the individual suffered damage; permission to serve out was refused.
Ratio decidendi
The legal reasoning necessary to the outcome, where it can safely be identified from the judgment.
AI confidence in this ratio summary: high
To recover compensation under the Data Protection Act 1998 for a given individual, it is necessary to show (a) that the defendant made some unlawful use of personal data relating to that individual and (b) that the individual suffered some damage as a result; a uniform award without such individual proof cannot succeed.
Obiter dicta
Judicial observations that were not necessary to the outcome, where they can safely be identified.
AI confidence in this obiter summary: low
No clear obiter dicta can safely be identified from the judgment.
Warning
The automated summary was prepared from the beginning and end of a long judgment; consult the original decision for the complete reasoning. The middle of the judgment was omitted from the judgment, which may have removed additional factual detail or reasoning relevant to the issues summarized.