Law note · United States
Video Privacy Protection Act
cite 18 U.S.C. Section 2710
stage In effect
since 1988-11-05
reviewed 2026-08-23
Prohibits a video tape service provider from knowingly disclosing a consumer's personally identifiable information about video-viewing history to a third party without informed, written consent, and arms an aggrieved consumer with a private right of action for statutory damages of at least $2,500, punitive damages, and attorneys' fees.
A 2013 amendment allowed ongoing consent through an electronic means, enabling social-media sharing features; the statute has driven a large wave of litigation since 2022 over website tracking-pixel disclosures of video-viewing activity.
What it asks of an app
- Obtain the consumer's informed, written consent before disclosing personally identifiable information about the consumer's video-viewing history to a third party.
When LexLint raises it
Declared activities: automated_outreach
Primary source: Official U.S. Code text (Office of the Law Revision Counsel), 18 U.S.C. Section 2710