Amazon class action lawsuit overview:
- Who: Two consumers are suing Amazon.com Inc., Amazon.com Services LLC, Amazon Digital Services LLC and Amazon Technologies Inc.
- Why: The plaintiffs allege Amazon secretly collects and sells Amazon Fire TV viewing data in violation of consumer privacy laws.
- Where: The Amazon Fire TV class action lawsuit was filed in Washington federal court.
Amazon is facing a new class action lawsuit alleging it violated consumer privacy laws by secretly collecting and selling data about what consumers watch on Amazon TVs.
Plaintiffs Nancy Manypenny and Kenneth Enser filed the class action complaint against Amazon on May 6 in Washington federal court.
The class action lawsuit claims that Amazon installs software on its Fire TV-branded televisions and third-party Fire TVs, which records and analyzes every image, frame and sound played on the screen. This data is then sold to advertisers without the knowledge or consent of consumers, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit alleges that Amazon’s practices violate the Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA), which was enacted in 1988 to protect consumers’ privacy. The VPPA prohibits the disclosure of personally identifiable information about a consumer’s video viewing history without their consent.
Class action claims Amazon uses data to sell targeted ads
According to the class action lawsuit, Amazon’s software tracks not only what apps consumers use and for how long, but also every video they watch, which parts they pause or rewind and every word they hear. This includes content from external devices connected to the TV, such as game systems, DVD players or streaming devices.
Amazon allegedly uses this information to sell highly targeted advertisements to its corporate clients, generating billions of dollars in revenue from its advertising business.
The plaintiffs argue that Amazon never obtained informed consent from them or other consumers to collect and share their data. They also claim that Amazon’s tracking practices constitute an invasion of privacy and breach of implied contract.
The class action lawsuit seeks to represent a nationwide class of consumers who have owned or used an Amazon Fire TV or a third-party Fire TV and whose data was collected without their consent.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages, restitution and injunctive relief to prevent Amazon from continuing its alleged unlawful practices.
In another Amazon privacy lawsuit, a Washington federal judge has recently narrowed a class action complaint accusing Amazon of secretly recording Alexa users’ private conversations.
What do you think of the allegations made in this Amazon class action lawsuit? Let us know in the comments.
The plaintiffs are represented by Roger M. Townsend of Townsend Legal and Nick Suciu III and Trenton R. Kashima of Bryson Harris Suciu & Demay PLLC.
The Amazon class action lawsuit is Manypenny, et al. v. Amazon.com Inc., et al., Case No. 2:26-cv-01534, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.
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One thought on Amazon accused of using Fire TV to spy on viewing habits for advertising profits
I think that this is creepy let alone stealing and spying….. sheesh….. Add me to the list