Independent Apep Bar reporting and analysis. Source-derived facts are attributed; where a supplied video could not be independently reviewed, its title is treated only as a starting point.
The Blockbuster-era law meets Facebook tracking
In Salazar v. Paramount Global, argued before the Supreme Court on October 14, 2026, a user alleges that a sports website shared his video-viewing information with Facebook without consent. The legal theory involves the 1988 Video Privacy Protection Act, enacted after the disclosure of a judge’s video-rental history.
What the justices actually must decide
The pivotal question is who qualifies as a protected ‘consumer’ under the statute: must a person subscribe specifically to audiovisual services, or can subscribing to other services from a video provider qualify? Paramount disputes the broader interpretation.
Not a blanket lawsuit to ban targeted ads
Although the result could affect privacy litigation involving website tracking, this case is not a general Supreme Court referendum on all personalized advertising. Its reach depends on the Court’s interpretation of statutory terms and the case’s facts.
Apep Bar asks
When a website knows what you watch, how much of that information belongs to you rather than the company collecting it?
References and further reading
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