unlawfulcharges.comWhat Babylist's website appears to do
It appears that as soon as the babylist.com home page loads, before a visitor clicks or types anything, the site sends data to a long list of outside companies:
- Bing (Microsoft)
- Criteo
- Google Ads
- LiveIntent
- LiveRamp
- Meta
- Tapad
- TikTok
- The Trade Desk
It also appears that when a visitor types a word into the site's search box, that word is received by Bing, Google Ads and TikTok. Bing also appears to receive the address of the page the visitor is viewing.
The site does not appear to show a cookie banner or any request for permission before this happens.
Why baby registry searches are sensitive
People come to Babylist at a private time in their lives. A search for a car seat, a breast pump, maternity clothes or a crib can reveal that someone is pregnant, roughly when the baby is due, or that a family is expecting twins. Registries and baby-product searches can tell a story that many parents have not yet shared with their own families.
When that search text travels to advertising companies, they learn what the visitor was looking for. A visitor using a search box has no way to see this happening and no easy way to stop it.
What California law says
California law prohibits letting outside companies read or learn what you type or send to a website while it is in transit, unless everyone taking part in the communication consents. When you type a search on a company's website, you are communicating with that company. The law asks whether anyone else was allowed to listen in, and whether you agreed to it.
California law also lets people whose communications were read without consent bring a claim and seek damages. They do not have to prove they lost money. The harm the law addresses is the loss of privacy itself.
These claims have short deadlines, so recent visits matter most. If you used babylist.com in the past year, it is worth acting now.
Who may qualify
You may qualify if all of these are true:
- You live in California now, or lived there when you used the site.
- You used babylist.com to search, build or edit a registry, shop or sign up.
- You did not knowingly agree to let advertising companies see what you typed.
You do not need to have bought anything, and you do not need receipts or screenshots.
What Maginnis Howard is doing
Maginnis Howard is investigating Babylist's website tracking on behalf of California residents. We are gathering information from California residents who used the site. If you sign up, our team will review your answers, keep you updated by email and handle every step of presenting your claim. There is no upfront cost, and we are paid only if your claim succeeds.
The legal basis
Why this may be illegal
It appears that a word typed into babylist.com's search box is received by three outside advertising companies: Microsoft Bing, Google Ads and TikTok. As the page loads, before a visitor types anything, the site appears to send data to eleven outside companies, with no request for permission. Many Babylist users are expecting parents, so what they search for can reveal a pregnancy, a due date or a family's plans.
The law
California law prohibits letting outside companies read or learn what you type or send to a website while it is in transit, unless everyone taking part in the communication consents. When you type a search or fill in a form on a company's website, you are communicating with that company, not with the advertising companies it has allowed to listen in. California law lets people whose communications were read this way bring a claim and seek damages without proving they lost money. This investigation is limited to people who live in California.
What you could recover
California law sets damages at the greater of $5,000 per violation or three times actual damages, and the person whose communication was intercepted does not have to show they lost money. How many violations one person's visits add up to is unsettled, so no amount is promised to anyone; estimates assume one violation per person.
How your claim would be handled
Claims like this are handled as individual arbitration cases — private proceedings, no courtroom. For Babylist (Baby List, Inc.), cases are typically administered through JAMS.
Think you're affected? Check if you qualify and sign up in about two minutes — no upfront cost.
Check if you qualifyFrequently asked questions
Do I need to prove I lost money?
No. California law lets people whose communications were read without consent seek damages without proving they lost money.
Why only California?
This investigation relies on a California privacy law that protects people who live in California. If you live in California now, or lived there when you used Babylist, you can sign up.
What information do you need from me?
Your name, email and phone number, and a few yes-or-no answers. The form also asks for the email address on your Babylist account and your mailing address. Both help us identify your account and present your claim, but neither is required to sign up.
Does it cost anything?
No. There is no upfront cost. We work on contingency, which means we are paid only if your claim succeeds.
I only created a registry, or only shopped. Does it apply?
It may. This investigation focuses on the search box, which anyone can use while building a registry or shopping. If you typed searches on babylist.com while living in California, we would like to hear from you. You do not need to have bought anything.
I don't remember seeing a cookie banner. Does that matter?
That is common. The site does not appear to show a banner asking permission. Either way, sign up and we will review what the site showed and disclosed.
Will I have to go to court?
No. We handle the filings and communications on your behalf.
What clients say
The entire process with Maginnis Howard was effortless. All our communication was by email and only a few phone calls. Any calls or emails were answered very promptly. I would like to thank Ian and Maginnis Howard. I will highly recommend any dispute that includes an Arbitration Agreement, there could no be a better Firm to represent you!
Ian is an excellent communicator who knows how to work with these companies to obtain a resolution and get you the best settlement offer possible. I highly recommend Ian and the Maginnis Howard law firm for anyone navigating the arbitration process.
I'm very grateful for his representation and the result we achieved. If you're facing arbitration and feel overwhelmed or unsure of your rights, I highly recommend Ian Vance and Maginnis Howard. They know how to handle these cases and fight for their clients.
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unlawfulcharges.com is operated by Maginnis Howard, a consumer-protection law firm.