Blockbuster sued for violating privacy rights
In Dallas, Texas, Facebook user Cathryn Elaine Harris filed a class action suit against video rental chain Blockbuster Inc. on April 9, 2008, in the Marshall Division of the Eastern District of Texas.
The suit charges that Blockbuster Inc. violated the Video Privacy Protection Act by transmitting personal information, which includes video rental history, to Facebook.
The popular social network implemented advertising program, Beacon, which connects businesses with Facebook users by letting partner business websites to place tags on their pages.
When a user goes to these websites and executes a transaction, for example renting a video, the tag transfers the information to Facebook, which then creates a pop-up that shows the user’s actions in their profile. Facebook allegedly flashes this information on profile news feeds, regardless if the user has chosen the option to display that information or not.
Before the class action suit was in motion, Facebook users already made complaints, so Facebook apologized for making the mistake of an opt-out, rather than an opt-in, system, to the distress of those for forgot to decline this action. Facebook then included the option of turning off Beacon in the privacy control section. But the plaintiff argued that this still allowed video rental information to be exposed until the user turns off Beacon.
As compensation, the class is seeking $2,500 that is an amount stated by the Video Privacy Protection Act, plus lawyer’s fees, punitive damages, and a court order for Blockbuster to destroy any personal information that is illegally distributed.
Dallas law firm Otstott and Jamison PC is representing the plaintiff and potential class members.
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