The class action lawsuit filed against Walmart in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas has brought attention to the retail giant’s alleged violation of federal privacy laws. The plaintiffs, Laurie Brown, Oluwakemi Fosudo, and Abigail Musick, claim that Walmart shared customers’ video viewing information with Meta Platforms, formerly known as Facebook, without obtaining their consent. This, they argue, is a breach of the Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA), which aims to safeguard consumers’ video rental and purchase histories.
Walmart has yet to officially respond to the claims made in court. However, they emphasized in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times that they take the privacy and security of their customers seriously and will review the complaint and respond accordingly. The lawsuit revolves around Walmart’s use of the “Meta Pixel,” a code embedded in its website. According to the plaintiffs, this code has been transmitting customers’ personal information, including their Facebook IDs (FIDs) and video titles purchased, to Meta without obtaining the necessary consent.
The plaintiffs argue that Walmart’s actions violate the VPPA, which explicitly prohibits video service providers from knowingly sharing personally identifiable information about consumers without explicit, written consent. They claim that they purchased video material from Walmart’s website and that their information was shared with Meta without their knowledge or consent. This lack of transparency and failure to seek consent are clear violations of the VPPA.
Enacted in 1988, the VPPA was established to protect consumers’ privacy regarding their video rental and purchase histories. The complaint highlights that Walmart’s actions not only violated this law but also intruded upon the plaintiffs’ privacy. The VPPA imposes penalties of $2,500 per violation, and the lawsuit argues that Walmart should be held accountable for these violations.
The plaintiffs seek several remedies through this lawsuit. They aim for certification of the lawsuit as a class action, which would allow other affected individuals to join the case. Additionally, they are requesting damages of $2,500 per violation for each affected individual and an injunction to prevent Walmart from continuing these privacy practices.
This lawsuit sheds light on the growing scrutiny surrounding how companies handle consumer data. The plaintiffs highlight the concerns expressed by U.S. senators at the time of the VPPA’s enactment, who were troubled by the potential disclosure of records that reveal consumers’ purchases and rentals of videos and other audiovisual materials. Such records offer a glimpse into individuals’ personal preferences and can be seen as an invasion of privacy.
This case serves as a reminder that consumers should be aware of how their personal information is being shared and used by companies. It is crucial for businesses to obtain explicit consent before sharing consumers’ personally identifiable information. As the lawsuit progresses, it may influence how companies handle customer data and could potentially lead to stricter regulations in the future.