VPPA

18 U.S.C. § 2710

Video Privacy Protection Act

In force since November 5, 1988

Who it applies to

  • Video tape service providers: anyone engaged in the rental, sale or delivery of prerecorded audio-visual materials
  • Read by many courts to reach streaming services and websites embedding video with tracking pixels

Consumer rights

  • Access / know — not granted
  • Correction — not granted
  • Deletion / erasure — not granted
  • Portability — not granted
  • Opt out of sale / sharing — not granted
  • Opt out of targeted advertising — not granted
  • Opt out of profiling — not granted
  • Limit sensitive data use — not granted
  • Human review of automated decisions — not granted
  • Non-discrimination — not granted
  • Appeal a refusal — not granted
  • Private right of action — grantedSue directly, rather than relying on a regulator to enforce on your behalf.

Obligations

Consent model
Opt-in
Universal opt-out signal
Not required
Risk assessments
Not required
Data protection officer
Not required
Records of processing
Not required
Processor contract
Not required
Right to cure
None — enforcement may follow immediately
Data broker registration
Not required

Breach notification

To individuals
Not addressed by this Act
To the regulator
Not required by this law
What triggers it
Not addressed by this Act

Penalties

Headline
Liquidated damages of $2,500 per person, plus punitive damages and fees
Private right of action
Yes — individuals can sue directly
Notes
A 1988 statute passed after a Supreme Court nominee's video rental history was published, now one of the most active bases for web-tracking class actions.

Amendment history

  1. January 10, 2013

    Consent modernisation

    Permitted consent to be given electronically and in advance, with a route to withdraw it.

Sources

Timeline

todayVPPA in forceNovember 5, 1988Consent modernisationJanuary 10, 2013