Technology and Science21 August, 20262 min read
Oura Faces Proposed Class Action Over Alleged Inaccurate Sleep-Tracking Accuracy in California
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Lawsuit filed in California alleges Oura overstated sleep-tracking accuracy and deceptive advertising. Plaintiffs say Oura rings cannot measure signals needed to determine sleep stages.
Lawsuit Targets Sleep Claims
Oura is facing a proposed class action accusing the company of misleading consumers about the accuracy of its sleep-tracking features, with the suit filed on Thursday in California by Clarkson Law Firm on behalf of Madison Surber. Quartz reports that the complaint alleges Oura represented its rings could identify sleep stages with 95% accuracy relative to clinical sleep labs, while the true figure is nearer to 50%.
The lawsuit also alleges that sleep staging requires electrodes on the scalp and sensors on the eyes, and that Oura’s ring-based measurements cannot replicate that process. TechCrunch says the complaint alleges Oura rings are unable to measure any of the physiological signals needed to assess sleep quality or determine sleep stages, and instead rely on AI-generated estimates with “a coin flip’s chance of being correct.”
Competing Tests and Dispute
PCMag reports that the proposed class action says Oura “cannot provide accurate data on sleep stages,” and it quotes the lawsuit’s claim that Oura overstated the ability of its products to mislead consumers. PCMag also notes that in its review of the latest Oura Ring 5, its reviewer found its sleep data consistent with rival products like the Fitbit Air and Apple Watch Ultra 3, and Andrew Gebhart said, "Oura’s charts and values consistently matched those of the control devices to a reasonable degree."
Stuff says a lawsuit filed in San Francisco contests that Oura Ring products aren’t even capable of measuring things like sleep quality or sleep stages, and it describes the suit’s argument that the tech inside the ring wouldn’t be powerful enough to achieve that data. Stuff further quotes an Oura user’s frustration from a Reddit thread, saying, "when I check my sleep results I get an 85 or 89" despite feeling they slept poorly.
What’s at Stake Next
The lawsuit seeks to halt what it calls “unlawful and fraudulent” advertising and marketing of Oura rings, and it also seeks restitution for existing customers, according to PCMag. Quartz reports that the complaint asks a court to stop what it characterizes as deceptive promotion of Oura rings and, if warranted, their distribution altogether, while also pursuing compensation for purchasers the complaint says paid a premium for capabilities the product cannot provide.
“We dispute the allegations in this complaint and intend to defend against them.”
CNET says the suit alleges Oura used false advertising by deceiving users about the accuracy of its AI-generated sleep tracking, and it quotes the lawsuit’s claim that “Oura built an $11 billion company on that trust.” CNET also includes Oura’s response to the allegations, quoting the company: “We dispute the allegations in this complaint and intend to defend against them.”