Supreme Court weighs applying old video privacy law to internet ads
The Supreme Court heard arguments about whether the Video Privacy Protection Act, enacted in 1988, applies to modern online advertising and data sharing. The case arose after a man alleged that a sports website shared his information with Meta without permission, but lower courts found he was not covered as a consumer under the law. The justices’ decision could affect many privacy lawsuits involving data provided to internet platforms.
The dispute traces to Michael Salazar, who subscribed to a college sports outlet’s email newsletter and claimed his information was passed to Meta for ads. Lower courts concluded the newsletter did not make him a covered consumer, even though the site hosted videos.
Lawmakers acted in 1988 after Robert Bork’s video rental records became public during his Supreme Court confirmation fight. A 2013 update let providers seek electronic permission to share data. The justices are expected to rule by next June.
A broad ruling for Salazar could expose more websites and apps that combine video content with advertising to privacy claims, potentially changing how they collect and share viewer data. A narrow ruling may leave many such suits blocked, limiting individuals’ ability to challenge data transfers to platforms. The outcome may shape consent practices and compliance costs across media, retail, and other businesses that host video.