Yes, chat features and session replay tools are significant drivers in the recent surge of California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA) litigation. Businesses are increasingly facing class action lawsuits alleging that these common digital tools constitute unlawful wiretapping and surveillance.

According to the provided content, these tools are causing a rise in claims for the following reasons:

• Real-Time Interception: Plaintiffs argue that chat widgets and session replay software capture interactions—such as messages being typed, mouse movements, and scrolls—in real time without proper user knowledge or affirmative consent.
• Penal Code 631 Violations: These features are being challenged under traditional wiretapping statutes. Litigants claim that recording these interactions serves as the unauthorized interception of electronic communications.
• Digital Pen Register Theory: Under Penal Code 638.51 (and relatedly PC 631), plaintiffs allege that session replay scripts act as digital pen registers by recording “routing” or “signaling” information, such as keystrokes and IP addresses, without a court order.
• Third-Party Data Sharing: Claims often gain traction when session replay code transmits detailed behavioral data to third-party vendors without adequate disclosure in the website’s privacy policy.

Because statutory damages under CIPA are set at $5,000 per violation, the use of these tools without robust, opt-in consent mechanisms creates substantial financial exposure for website operators.

• California Invasion of Privacy Act Litigation 2026: Essential Guide