Amazon emerged victorious in a recent lawsuit, as U.S. District Judge James Robart dismissed the case due to a lack of evidence. The lawsuit, filed in 2023 by several Amazon users, accused the company of disclosing their personally identifiable information to its parent company and third parties, in violation of federal and Washington law. However, Judge Robart ruled that the plaintiffs failed to provide sufficient evidence to support their claims of data disclosure by Amazon Services.
In his 11-page decision, Judge Robart pointed out that the plaintiffs only alleged the mere possibility of information being disclosed to other Amazon affiliates, rather than providing proof of actual disclosure. He emphasized that access to data does not equate to disclosure. The plaintiffs had relied on the terms of use for Amazon Prime Video, which state that information about users’ viewing behavior may be shared with third parties. However, Judge Robart deemed this claim to be possible but not plausible, warranting its dismissal.
While the judge allowed the plaintiffs to file an updated complaint specifically addressing the allegations of disclosure, he dismissed their claims that Amazon violated the Video Privacy Protection Act. He noted that the cases cited by the plaintiffs as supporting evidence all involved actual disclosure, whereas their case only presented the possibility of disclosure. Judge Robart likened this situation to previous cases against Sony Computer Entertainment America and Microsoft, where lack of evidence led to the dismissal of the lawsuits.
Furthermore, the judge determined that even if the plaintiffs could prove that their data had been disclosed and that it caused significant harm, such harm could have been avoided if they had read and understood Amazon’s terms and conditions. According to Judge Robart, the possibility of disclosure is explicitly outlined in Amazon’s terms and conditions, and users have the option to decline using Amazon’s services if they do not agree with these terms.
In addition, the plaintiffs’ claims of Amazon violating consumer protection laws were also thrown out, and they are prohibited from bringing these claims again. Judge Robart denied a request to add a claim for invasion of privacy, as the case did not allege disclosure to the general public.
This ruling underscores the importance of providing concrete evidence in lawsuits involving data disclosure. It emphasizes that mere possibilities or allegations are not enough to substantiate a claim. It also highlights the significance of reading and understanding the terms and conditions of online services, as they serve as an agreement between the user and the company. Overall, this case sets a precedent for future lawsuits involving data privacy and disclosure.
