Meet the law that started with a video rental and ended up protecting your Netflix queue.

A decades-old law, written back when people still rented VHS tapes, was actually created to prevent companies from doing just that. It made them promise to keep your viewing habits private.

Some of today’s biggest media companies are breaking that law. When you stream a show or scroll through videos on your phone, you're probably not thinking about who might be taking note, but someone usually is.

A Law Born From a Videotape Scandal

Back in 1988, a Washington newspaper revealed the movie rental history of Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork. The public was outraged not because of what it revealed that he watched, but the fact that it was revealed at all - it was a considerably uncomfortable feeling to be privy to the knowledge anyone's viewership was up for public scrutiny.

Congress agreed, passing the Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA) into law soon after, which made it illegal for companies to share what you watch without your explicit consent.

At the time, it was meant to protect Blockbuster rental lists.

As times have changed and viewership with it, it remains the governing digital media protection for those who consume it. The VPPA still protects all digital watch history, from streaming services to news sites with embedded videos.

The Modern Breach: How Companies Are Quietly Tracking You

Imagine a 1980s Blockbuster customer hitting fast forward (wink wink) to the digital age.

With modern technology, streaming platforms, news sites, and apps often embed video players and tracking scripts that double as data collectors. Every time you hit play, tiny tracking tools that digital media firms employ could be triggered to send video-viewing details to third parties without your permission.

They use tools like the Meta Pixel (and similar scripts) to quietly log what you watch, when you watch it, and how long you watch without you realizing it.

An uncomfortable truth, is that this is happening invisibly, up to millions of times a day.

So, How Can You Know If You've Been Affected?

You could be impacted by a video privacy breach if:

• You’ve watched videos on a news or entertainment site while logged into your account

• You also have a Facebook or Instagram account

• You notice eerily specific ads after watching online videos

Even if you didn’t hit “share”, the site may have done it for you — without your consent. That’s exactly what the VPPA was designed to stop.

Why This Law Still Matters

The VPPA might be an ’80s law, but it’s proving more relevant than ever. It’s a rare example of an ’80s law keeping Big Tech in check, reminding corporations that personal data is still personal.

This is one example of a privacy law giving consumers a clear path to accountability when companies mishandle personal data.

If you’ve ever watched a video online, on a news site, streaming service, or media app, your rights may have been violated under the VPPA.

The good news? You don’t have to take on those giant corporations alone. Chariot Claims helps consumers join together to enforce their rights, making the process easier and more effective than going solo.

👉 Check if you qualify for any current cases.