Can Websites Share User Video Viewing History?

The Lyon Firm is investigating invasion of privacy claims against media companies who unlawfully share user browsing and video viewing history with third parties like Facebook. Contact a consumer protection lawyer and seek compensation.

It has been reported that some popular news and entertainment websites, including USAToday, People, Bloomberg and others may have shared paid users’ video history with Facebook without customer permission.

If the allegations are true, such an act may violate terms of the Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA), which prohibits video service providers from disclosing personally identifiable information about its users.

What is the Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA)?

The Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA) is a bill that was passed by the United States Congress in 1988. The law was originally meant to prevent the “wrongful disclosure of video tape rental or sale records.”

With the advent of the internet and online media records, the significance of the law has changed, though is no less important to protect the privacy of consumers.

There are no shortage of companies engaging in third-party advertising, and tracking firms that pose risk to consumer privacy. While federal laws may still be lagging behind technological advances, privacy lawyers can still help resolve issues, and help plaintiffs find justice and compensation.

Can Websites Share User Video Viewing History?

As a general rule, companies can only share personal data and user history if you explicitly consent to it. Websites should be forthcoming with their paid customers in particular, or may toeing a line of ethical or legal negligence.

Even so, some websites regularly collect and sell users’ browsing and video viewing history to companies. Companies like Facebook can use this data for targeted advertising.

Media companies are perfectly aware that there are limitations to how they can use personal data and viewing histories, but since there is so much money at stake, they often choose to risk litigation. Facebook, for example, has faced lawsuits due to privacy violations for almost as long as the company has existed.

In the past, some company programs have resulted in users’ private information, including video viewing history, obtained from third-party affiliate marketing websites, being shared without consent.

In 2019, Google agreed pay $170 million to settle allegations by the Federal Trade Commission and the New York Attorney General that the YouTube video sharing service illegally collected personal information like video viewing history from children without their parents’ consent.

If you’ve visited any of the following websites and watched a video as a paid user, contact us for a free consultation:

• Bloomberg.com
• People.com
• Newyorker.com
• Usatoday.com
• PBS.com
• Gamestop.com
• Inquirer.com
• Patreon.com