A 19-year-old woman is suing the makers of the dating app Meete, alleging her video was used as an advertisement without consent and geofenced to target users in her vicinity, including fellow students in her dormitory. The lawsuit, filed in Tennessee, claims the app’s creators repurposed her TikTok content to promote Meete, a violation of her rights.
The complaint asserts that the app’s advertising strategy involved overlaying a video the plaintiff posted online with promotional graphics and a new voiceover. This altered content allegedly falsely suggested she was endorsing the app and seeking casual encounters, leading to her being targeted with ads on platforms like Snapchat. The use of geofencing reportedly narrowed these advertisements to individuals in her immediate geographic area.
Dating App Accused of Misappropriating User Content
The core of the legal challenge centers on allegations that the Meete dating app, developed by overseas companies including Starpool Data Limited and Guangzhou Yuedong Interconnection Technology, unlawfully utilized video content posted by Kaelyn Lunglhofer. According to her attorney, Abe Pafford, Lunglhofer, a TikTok influencer attending the University of Tennessee, discovered her video was being used in Meete advertisements after a male student in her dormitory showed her the ads he saw on Snapchat.
Pafford described the situation as deeply disturbing and potentially dangerous, suggesting that such tactics exploit user recognition for advertising. He posits that the app’s creators intentionally used geofencing to ensure ads featured individuals that potential users might know or recognize within their local environment, thereby enhancing the perceived relevance of the app. This strategy, if proven, highlights the sophisticated and sometimes concerning ways digital advertising can be deployed.
Allegations of Deception and Harassment Risk
The lawsuit details how Lunglhofer’s original TikTok video, posted on her high school graduation day, was allegedly modified into an advertisement for Meete. A voiceover was added, purportedly stating, “Are you looking for a friend with benefits? This app shows you women around you who are looking for some fun. You can video chat with them.” This alteration, the complaint argues, falsely implied Lunglhofer’s endorsement and availability for casual hookups.
Her attorney stated that the alleged misappropriation of her likeness not only damages her online brand and reputation but also exposes her to potential harassment and misrepresents her personal life. The intentional targeting of these ads within her immediate vicinity, including her dormitory, amplified these concerns.
Legal Basis and Damages Sought
The legal action cites violations of several federal and state laws. These include the Lanham Act, which governs U.S. trademark rights, and Tennessee’s ELVIS Act, designed to protect artists’ and musicians’ rights against unauthorized use of their image or likeness. Additionally, the lawsuit includes claims for defamation and violation of the right of publicity under Tennessee common law.
Lunglhofer is seeking $750,000 in punitive damages, along with any revenue derived from the advertisements featuring her likeness. The lawsuit also names Quantum Communications Development Unlimited, based in the Virgin Islands, as a defendant. Despite the defendants’ overseas operations, Pafford contends that Meete operates significantly within the U.S., evidenced by U.S. patents, trademarks, and distribution through major app stores like Apple and Google Play.
The app’s descriptions on these platforms promise safety, respect, and privacy, with claims of moderation and AI filtering. However, user reviews on the Google Play Store suggest a different reality, with accusations of the app struggling to connect users with actual nearby individuals and being populated by bots. Representatives from Meete and its associated companies have not responded to requests for comment.
Moving forward, a judge has ordered representatives from the named companies to appear for depositions in the United States. The effectiveness of U.S. laws in holding foreign entities accountable remains a key consideration as the case progresses. The outcome of this lawsuit could set a precedent for how digital content is used in advertisements and the legal recourse available to individuals whose images are allegedly misappropriated.