Supreme Court to decide how 1988 videotape privacy law applies to online video

The U.S. Supreme Court is set to deliberate on a pivotal case concerning the 1988 Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA) and its implications for online video services. At the heart of the case, Michael Salazar is challenging Paramount Global, alleging that the media giant breached the VPPA by sharing his viewing habits with Facebook. This case raises significant questions regarding the law's interpretation of the term "consumer." According to Salazar's petition, Paramount inadvertently revealed sensitive personal information—such as his Facebook ID and the videos he viewed—due to the implementation of Facebook Pixel on its platform. This data sharing enabled both Paramount and Facebook to enhance their targeted advertising strategies, ultimately boosting their advertising revenues. The VPPA defines a consumer as any individual who rents, purchases, or subscribes to services provided by a video tape service provider. The law includes definitions that could extend beyond traditional video cassette providers. The central legal debate for the Supreme Court revolves around whether the term "goods or services from a video tape service provider" encompasses all offerings of the provider or is limited strictly to audiovisual products. The Supreme Court has accepted Salazar's petition to hear the case, which could potentially reshape privacy norms in the streaming era, affecting how personal data is handled by service providers.