Is Your Couch Viewing Private? FuboTV’s Data Privacy Practices In Question

Have you ever settled into your favorite spot on the couch, remote in hand, ready to dive into the latest binge-worthy series, only to wonder if your viewing choices are being shared with the world? This isn't just idle curiosity—it’s central to a contentious legal issue currently unfolding.

Imagine this: every time you click ‘play,’ someone could be taking note, not just of what you're watching, but all the other juicy details about you that come attached to that click. That’s the picture painted by a recent data privacy class action lawsuit against FuboTV. It raises an eyebrow, doesn’t it?

What’s the real score?

FuboTV, a service we’ve turned to for our sports highs and our movie night lows, is under legal fire. Why? Well, the claim is they’ve been passing around our personal viewing records like a hot potato. And not just to anyone—the names dropped include big players like Facebook and Google.

Catherine Beasley, the lead plaintiff, isn't whispering her accusations in a corner. She’s shouting them in a court of law, claiming FuboTV handed out details of every show she—and potentially you—watched without the magic word: consent.

But isn’t this all supposed to be private?

Here’s where it gets crunchy. The Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA) isn't just a fancy name; it’s a law designed to keep our video watching habits from becoming dinner table gossip. It requires a video tape service provider to get your nod—in writing—before sharing your watching history.

So, when Beasley alleges FuboTV skipped this crucial step, it’s like someone telling your secrets without asking. It feels personal because, well, it is.

The stakes? More than just spoilers.

Let's get real—what’s at risk isn’t just a spoiler for the season finale. It's the invasion of our living rooms, the sanctity of our 'me time.' Beasley argues this is a breach of privacy that reveals more than just a penchant for reality TV or a weakness for rom-coms.

It’s about information—powerful and personal—potentially used to profile us, to nudge us into targeted advertising’s ever-welcoming arms.

What’s FuboTV’s play?

FuboTV remains silent on their strategy. If indeed they've been sharing our data, one must wonder about the implications. With a jury trial in demand and various damages at stake, the outcome could have far-reaching implications for privacy.

A familiar plotline?

The VPPA has been cited in legal narratives before. Recall last year, when Bloomberg was accused of a similar breach—disclosing users’ viewing preferences to Facebook. That case took a turn towards arbitration, a precedent that could influence the current proceedings.

Why should you care?

Because it’s about more than just what we watch—it's about who gets to watch us. In a world where our choices are increasingly online, keeping a slice of digital privacy is like holding onto the last piece of cake at a party.

So, the question isn’t just “Have you logged into FuboTV’s website or applications?” It's “Do you know who's been invited to your viewing party?”

Whether you're a legal eagle or just someone who loves their TV time unobserved, this is a class action lawsuit to follow. After all, when it comes to data privacy, every viewer counts, and every viewing choice is part of the bigger plot.

The plaintiff is represented by Adrian Gucovschi of Gucovschi Rozenshteyn, PLLC. 

The FuboTV viewer data privacy class action lawsuit is Beasley v. FuboTV Inc., Case No. 1:24-cv-00711, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.