SCOTUS to Resolve Circuit Split on VPPA “Consumer” Definition in Salazar V. Paramount Global
The Supreme Court will take up Salazar v. Paramount Global in its October 2026 term to settle a circuit split over who counts as a 'consumer' under the Video Privacy Protection Act. The outcome will determine how broadly the VPPA's protections apply to people who watch video content online.
Why this matters: The VPPA is one of the oldest and strongest video privacy laws on the books, and its definition of 'consumer' controls who can sue when a company shares their viewing history without permission. If the Court reads that definition narrowly, a lot of people who watch streaming video and get tracked will have no legal recourse. If it reads broadly, companies like Paramount face real exposure for common data-sharing practices. This case decides whether a law written for VHS rentals still means something in a world built on behavioral data.
Who should care: General readers · Privacy officers · Policy
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