Legal Investigation Looks into SFGate.com Over Suspected Privacy Violations

Last Updated on August 29, 2024

Investigation Complete

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At A Glance

This Alert Affects:
Any Facebook user who signed up for a newsletter with SFGate.com and streamed videos on the website.
What’s Going On?
It’s believed that Hearst Communications, Inc., the owner of SFGate.com, may have used a tracking tool on its website to record certain users’ activities – specifically, which videos they watch – and secretly shared this data with Facebook. Attorneys are now gathering newsletter recipients to take action over potential privacy violations.
What Am I Signing Up For, Exactly?
You’re signing up for what’s known as “mass arbitration,” which involves hundreds or thousands of consumers bringing individual arbitration claims against the same company at the same time and over the same issue. This is different from class action litigation and takes place outside of court.
How Much Could I Get?
While there are no guarantees, the federal Video Privacy Protection Act states that consumers who had their rights violated under the law could be owed $2,500.