Class Action Claims Princeton University Failed to Safeguard Private Info Against November 2025 Data Breach

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A proposed class action lawsuit alleges that Princeton University failed to prevent a data breach that apparently exposed the information of at least 100,000 people to an unauthorized third party.  

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The 37-page Princeton University data breach lawsuit alleges that on or about November 10, 2025, an unauthorized third party accessed personal data in the Ivy League institution’s University Advancement database with the intent to misuse the information.

The lawsuit contends that Princeton University should have known that universities are frequent targets of cyberattacks, as they compile a “wealth” of information about students, staff, alumni and anyone else associated with the school.

Per the lawsuit, “the potential for improper disclosure and theft” of the compromised data was a “known risk” to Princeton University. However, the case argues, Princeton University did not take precautions, such as “adequately securing and encrypting” its servers.

According to the suit, Princeton’s University Advancement Program is used to raise money for “critically important philanthropic support for the University’s highest priorities.” Personal data collected and stored in the University Advancement database is then used to identify potential donors and “build datasets about employment, income, giving history, professional networks and volunteer activity to target them,” the lawsuit says.

The case argues that Princeton University requested, collected, used and benefited from the private information stored in the University Advancement database; however, it “breached its duties by failing to implement or maintain adequate security practices,” the filing charges.

The class action lawsuit explains that the personally identifying information was highly confidential, “representing a gold mine” for data thieves. Data compromised in the breach included individuals’ names, dates of birth, employment and business details, family information and relationships with other Princeton University Students, interests and group memberships, financial information and photographs from student events, according to the filing.

“Armed with the PII accessed in the data breach, these bad actors would not only know who the affected individuals are, but also what they talk about, what they like, even what they do for a living,” the case emphasizes.

The class action lawsuit goes on to say that data breaches like this can lead to “identity theft, fraud, and social engineering scams.”

The plaintiff in this case is an individual whose personal data was stored with Princeton University and was accessed by an unauthorized third party during the incident on November 10, 2025. The case alleges that the data breach caused an “imminent and substantial” risk of the plaintiff’s personal information being exploited. The plaintiff then had to deal with fears “for their loss of privacy and anxiety over the impact of cybercriminals accessing, using, and selling their PII,” the lawsuit says.

The class action lawsuit further alleges that Princeton University still does not know the true extent of the data breach or what information was accessed, and that affected individuals “face years of constant surveillance” over their personal information.

The Princeton University class action lawsuit seeks to represent all residents within the United States whose personally identifying information was exposed to unauthorized third parties because of the University Advancement data breach on November 10, 2025.

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