Coupang Faces Securities Class Action Over Major Data Breach and Controversial Executive Departures

Coupang Inc. (NYSE: CPNG) is currently embroiled in a securities class action lawsuit, Barry v. Coupang, Inc., et al., which is filed in the Northern District of California. This legal action aims to represent investors who acquired Coupang securities between August 6, 2025, and December 16, 2025. Following alarming reports regarding a massive data breach that compromised approximately 33.7 million customer records, many shareholders are now questioning the company's transparency and adherence to securities laws.

News of the data breach, disclosed in late November 2025, raised significant concerns about whether Coupang appropriately notified investors about the incident's severity and its possible financial repercussions. The initial reports claim that unauthorized data access had led to the exposure of sensitive customer information, which was met with a public apology from the company.

The law firm Hagens Berman, known for representing shareholders' rights, initiated an investigation into Coupang's legal standing, particularly regarding any potential misrepresentation of its cybersecurity protocols. According to the latest findings, the breach was attributed to a former employee, who allegedly retained access credentials after departing from the company in 2024.

As the situation unfolded, it became apparent that Coupang had experienced a decline in its market value, with over $8 billion wiped off its capitalization since news of the breach broke. During the ongoing investigations, it was reported that Coupang's board and executives held an emergency summit shortly after learning the extent of the breach to evaluate the company's future steps and ensure compliance with data privacy laws.

The company's commitment to security has been called into question as reports indicate that even before the breach, Coupang reassured investors regarding its cybersecurity efforts, mentioning encryption and authentication technologies designed to protect sensitive information. However, whether these measures were adequate to guard against the significant vulnerabilities exposed during the breach is now a focal point of scrutiny.

Compounding these issues, Coupang's leadership faced further challenges with the resignation of the CEO of its South Korean e-commerce division shortly after the data breach surfaced. Analysts have suggested that this departure is indicative of the unrest within the company's management related to the breach and its fallout.

A critical aspect of the lawsuit centers on whether Coupang properly disclosed the breach to its investors within a timely manner. The SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) mandates that companies must report any material incidents that could impact their financial standing within four days. Concerns arise around the company's delayed reporting – it was not until December 16, 2025, that Coupang admitted to recognizing a cybersecurity incident back on November 18, 2025.

In light of these events, Hagens Berman is urging any investors who suffered substantial losses connected to Coupang’s stock due to the alleged delay in disclosures to come forward to assist in the ongoing investigation. The firm is also actively encouraging whistleblowers with non-public information regarding Coupang's practices to leverage their knowledge and potentially receive rewards under the SEC's whistleblower program.

Investors, especially those involved during the specified class period, are being urged to assess their positions concerning Coupang and participate in the ongoing litigation. The ramifications of this lawsuit could pave the way for significant changes in Coupang’s operational and disclosure policies as it aims to rebuild trust and security amidst rising scrutiny from both shareholders and regulators.

For those impacted by the class action, Hagens Berman provides several resources to guide potential claimants through the process of participating in the lawsuit, including receiving regular updates and insights into the legal proceedings as they evolve.

Topics Financial Services & Investing)

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