Smart ring maker Oura is facing a proposed class-action lawsuit accusing the company of misleading consumers about the accuracy of its sleep-tracking technology.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday by Clarkson Law Firm in San Francisco, alleges that Oura rings cannot directly measure the physiological signals required to determine sleep quality or identify different stages of sleep. Instead, the complaint claims the devices rely on AI-generated estimates that have “a coin flip’s chance of being correct.”
The lawsuit takes aim at Oura’s marketing claims, including that its rings are “built for accuracy” and offer “unparalleled accuracy.”
According to the complaint, Oura has claimed its devices can achieve 79% accuracy in their measurements and more recently promoted 95% sleep-staging accuracy compared with clinical sleep laboratories.
The plaintiffs argue that accurately determining sleep stages requires measurements that the ring cannot capture.
“To capitalize on consumers’ desire for a tracker that could actually track sleep and monitor their sleep cycles, Oura sold expensive tracking rings, priced at $300 and up, advertising exactly that: that Oura rings are capable of seeing what only a hospital sleep lab can see, including the four different stages of sleep,” the complaint said.
The lawsuit further argues that determining sleep stages in a clinical setting requires electrodes placed on the scalp and sensors around the eyes, adding that “sleep happens in the brain, not on one’s finger.”
Oura has not immediately responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit.
The legal action also cites complaints from some Oura users who questioned the accuracy of the company’s sleep scores, with some reporting that the ring classified their sleep as good even when they felt they had slept poorly.
Ryan Clarkson, co-founder and managing partner of Clarkson Law Firm, said consumers could be harmed when they rely on wearable devices to make decisions about their health.
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“When people rely on a device to guide decisions about their health, misinformation cannot be tolerated,” Clarkson said. “Oura users trust that the numbers on their screen reflect reality. People structure their days, interpret the way they feel, and design their lives around inaccurate figures spit out by these devices.”
He added that marketing an inaccurate sleep tracker as precise and reliable is dangerous because consumers may believe the results and change their behaviour based on them.
The lawsuit is seeking an order preventing Oura from allegedly misrepresenting the capabilities of its products, as well as restitution for consumers who bought the rings based on the disputed claims.
About the Author
Cecilia Attah is a tech analyst with a degree from Benue State University. She covers tech news and startups at TechRegard with a focus on how technology is transforming Africa and shaping the global landscape.
