Video Privacy Protection Act Class Action Lawsuits

The Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA) is a federal privacy law enacted in 1988, primarily aimed at protecting the personal information of consumers regarding their video viewing habits. The Act prohibits video service providers from disclosing a consumer’s video viewing history without their consent.

Video Privacy Protection Act class action lawsuits are legal actions taken against video service providers who are alleged to have violated the VPPA by improperly disclosing or failing to protect the video viewing history of their customers. These lawsuits allow a group of consumers, known as a putative class, to collectively seek damages from the violating party, which can be more efficient than individual lawsuits.

Any consumer who has had their PII disclosed by a video rental or streaming service in violation of the VPPA can file a lawsuit. Typically these lawsuits are filed as class actions on behalf of a group of consumers, all of whom have been affected by the same privacy violation.

Generally there are a few different types of recoverable damages. Such as the cost of replacing a stolen identity, as well as punitive damages, which are meant to punish the defendant for their misconduct. In addition, the VPPA also provides a framework for statutory damages of up to $2,500 per violation, as well as the attorneys’ fees. The total damages can add up quickly, particularly in cases involving large numbers of affected customers.

It depends on the specific lawsuit. In some lawsuits the various class members are automatically included in the lawsuit, and thus do not need to take any action to join. In other cases, individual class members will need to opt in to the lawsuit, by filing a claim or taking some other action.

The statute of limitations for filing a VPPA class action lawsuit is two years from the date of the privacy violation. There can however be certain specific deadlines for various cases, so it is always important to consult with an attorney for an accurate understanding.

Plaintiffs in a VPPA class action lawsuit typically need to show that the defendant disclosed their personally identifiable information (PII) without their written consent. This can be established through a variety of evidence, including email communications, website logs, and internal company documents.

Yes. It is possible for a company to be sued under the VPPA, even if the disclosure was accidental. The law does not require intentional disclosure of PII for a violation to occur. This makes it important for businesses to take data privacy seriously at all times.

Yes. It is possible for US citizens to bring VPPA class actions against companies outside of the United States, if the company does business in the United States and also is thought to be violating the law.

Yes. There are a number of steps that businesses can take, in order to proactively avoid future VPPA class action lawsuits. This could be achieved by implementing strong privacy policies and practices, obtaining written consent from customers before disclosing their PII, and regularly training employees on privacy requirements and best practices.

Currently the VPPA law seems fairly settled. There are no scheduled or proposed changes to the law itself at the time of writing. But since the VPPA is a federal law, changes could be made in the future through the normal legislative process at any time.

Class action lawsuits require a professional team of lawyers with experience in these cases. It is important to find a team that understands the nuances and details of VPPA class action lawsuits, but also are committed to fighting for the rights of you as a consumer.

Our team is ready to provide the necessary knowledge, experience and motivation, in order to build a strong case on your behalf and seek the compensation you deserve.