Supreme Court to weigh landmark digital-privacy case over video-streaming data sharing

The Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments for Salazar v. Paramount Global on Oct. 14, a case rooted in a plaintiff’s claim that Paramount disclosed his personally identifiable information, including his Facebook ID and video-viewing habits, to Facebook for targeted advertising, allegedly breaching the Video Privacy Protection Act of 1988. Michael Salazar, a college-sports enthusiast, argues that the law’s definition of “consumer” covers his subscription to a free streaming service, while Paramount maintains that only paid rentals or purchases qualify.

The Sixth Circuit sided with Paramount, prompting Salazar to ask the high court to overturn that interpretation. amici such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce warn the decision could dismantle the lucrative targeted-ad ecosystem, whereas privacy groups argue the law should protect modern digital tracking. The dispute echoes the legacy of Robert Bork’s 1987 nomination, which spurred the original VPPA, and arrives as the Court has shown heightened interest in digital-privacy issues under Chief Justice John Roberts. A ruling for Salazar could extend a decades-old privacy statute to contemporary internet practices, reshaping data-sharing norms across the industry.