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Woman Sues Blockbuster for Facebook Privacy Violations

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the looking-for-a-quick-buck dept.

Chris Blanc writes "A Texas woman has sued Blockbuster over its activities relating to Facebook's Beacon tool. The movie rental service has been reporting user activity to Facebook since Beacon launched last November, which the plaintiff says is a violation of the Video Privacy Protection Act."

4 of 133 comments (clear)

  1. Blockbuster makes you waive that by Animats · · Score: 5, Informative

    Blockbuster's user agreement includes a wavier of your rights under the Video Privacy Protection Act. That's why I don't shop there.

    1. Re:Blockbuster makes you waive that by ark1 · · Score: 5, Informative

      Just beacause it is in the contract does not mean it is legal.

    2. Re:Blockbuster makes you waive that by TheRedSeven · · Score: 5, Informative
      Parent is not correct, at least according to the website:

      From the privacy policy

      Legal Notices--Video Privacy Protection Act of 1988. Blockbuster supports the Video Privacy Protection Act of 1988 and will use reasonable commercial efforts to require employee and business partner compliance with the Act.
      Now, that's pretty vague, but if you take it at face value (HAH!), it would imply that they don't have you waive your rights under this law.

      However, they do have some pretty crappy privacy when it comes to any comments you post to their website (ratings and such): From the TOS:

      Content submitted to blockbuster.com (including your name) will not be confidential and may be published or disclosed in Blockbuster's sole discretion, without any compensation to you.

      By submitting Content, you grant Blockbuster the right to use your submitted name in connection with your Content.
      I may just be going back to Netflix...
  2. From Blockbuster's TOS by TheRedSeven · · Score: 4, Informative
    Parent is not correct, at least according to the website:

    From the privacy policy

    Legal Notices Video Privacy Protection Act of 1988. Blockbuster supports the Video Privacy Protection Act of 1988 and will use reasonable commercial efforts to require employee and business partner compliance with the Act.
    Now, that's pretty vague, but if you take it at face value (HAH!), it would imply that they don't have you waive your rights under this law.

    However, they do have some pretty crappy privacy when it comes to any comments you post to their website (ratings and such): From the TOS :

    Content submitted to blockbuster.com (including your name) will not be confidential and may be published or disclosed in Blockbuster's sole discretion, without any compensation to you. Blockbuster may, but is not obligated to, respond to any Content.

    By submitting Content, you grant Blockbuster the right to use your submitted name in connection with your Content.