Courthouse News Service reports that HTC Americas and app developer AccuWeather are facing a US class action lawsuit, concerning the AccuWeather app which is pre-installed on several handsets in the current HTC range.

According to the publication, it has been alleged that the app tracks user location to within a few feet, and then transmits the information across the internet in an unencrypted form, to be used to deliver targeted advertising. It was also asserted that there is no way to turn off the app – and therefore no way to stop the location information being made available.

The complaint said that the information transmitted is “unnecessarily precise” for a weather forecast, and was being used “for the defendants’ own purposes unrelated to weather information.” The devices are capable of supplying “coarse” location data, which is less accurate.

It was also said that the transmission of data in unencrypted form is “substandard,” especially since the device is capable of sending data over the Internet using SSL encryption.

The case is calling for refunds, a replacement smartphone, or the premium paid for the devices “above the amount charged for similar, adequately labelled products.”