Blockbuster-era law governing privacy of video rentals gets a fresh look from the Supreme Court
In 1988, Congress enacted the Video Privacy Protection Act to safeguard the privacy of video rentals following a journalist's disclosure of Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork's movie rental history during his Senate hearings. This law prohibits companies from disclosing customers' video-viewing data without consent. Recently, the Supreme Court is examining whether the statute remains relevant in today's digital commerce landscape.
The court heard arguments in a case brought by Michael Salazar, who claims Paramount Global violated the law by sharing his video-watching history with Facebook without his permission, enabling companies to employ his personal information for targeted advertising. The law's defenders argue it was intentionally broad to adapt to technological advancements.
Critics contend it is an outdated provision that plaintiffs' lawyers are trying to exploit in ways Congress could not have envisioned before the internet revolutionized commerce. Consumer advocates believe the law should be upheld to protect consumers' personal information, while critics urge the justices to limit its scope to prevent companies from losing a significant source of revenue from targeted online advertising.
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