USA Today: Can you sue over targeted ads? ‘Blockbuster’ Supreme Court case to decide
The Supreme Court is set to decide whether individuals can sue over targeted advertising tied to their video viewing habits, in a case that could test the reach of the Video Privacy Protection Act. The outcome may determine whether existing federal law can fill gaps left by the absence of comprehensive U.S. privacy legislation.
Why this matters: The U.S. has no general federal privacy law. What it does have is a 1988 law written to protect video rental records — and that narrow statute may end up being the tool that holds online ad tracking accountable. If the Court sides with the plaintiff, companies that quietly tie your streaming or viewing history to ad profiles face real legal exposure. If it rules the other way, surveillance-based advertising continues with almost no federal check. The stakes here go well beyond one case.
Who should care: Lawyers · Privacy officers · Compliance · Cybersecurity · General readers · Policy
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