Patreon class action alleges company shares subscribers’ personal information with Facebook

Patreon subscriber information class action lawsuit overview: 

• Who: Brayden Stark, Judd Oostyen, Kevin Black and Maryann Owens filed a class action lawsuit against Patreon Inc. 
• Why: Stark, Oostyen, Black and Owens claim Patreon provides Facebook with the personal information of its digital subscribers unlawfully and without consent. 
• Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in California federal court. 

Patreon discloses the identities and video-viewing preferences of its digital subscribers to Facebook without proper consent, a new class action lawsuit alleges. 

Plaintiffs Brayden Stark, Judd Oostyen, Kevin Black and Maryann Owens claim Patreon violated state law and the Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA) with its alleged unlawful disclosures to Facebook. 

They argue Patreon uses a “Facebook Pixel” to share the personal information of its users, including their Facebook ID and the titles of the videos they watch, with the social networking company.

“In simplest terms, the Pixel allows Facebook to know what video content one of its users viewed on Patreon’s website,” the Patreon class action states. 

Patreon class action claims company fails to get consent to share info

Stark, Oostyen, Black and Owens argue Patreon fails to inform or get consent from its users to share their personal information with a third party, such as Facebook. 

“At no point are Patreon users informed about Patreon’s dissemination of their viewing content to a third party. Nor do Patreon users consent to such sharing, through a standalone consent form or otherwise,” the Patreon class action states. 

Sark, Oosten, Black and Owens claim Patreon, in addition to violating the VPPA, is guilty of unjust enrichment and in violation of California’s Unfair Competition Law and Consumers Legal Remedies Act. 

The plaintiffs demand a jury trial and request injunctive and/or declaratory relief along with actual, general, special, incidental, statutory, treble, punitive, liquidated and consequential damages and/or restitution for themselves and all class members. 

Stark, Oostyen, Black and Owens want to represent a nationwide class and California subclass of Patreon subscribers who viewed a video on the platform while using Facebook during the period the Facebook Pixel was active on Patreon. 

Earlier this month, a consumer filed a similar class action lawsuit against Gannett Co., claiming it violates digital privacy laws by sharing the data of its USA Today subscribers with third parties. 

Are you a Patreon subscriber who has had their personal information shared with Facebook? Let us know in the comments! 

The plaintiffs are represented by Adam E. Polk, Simon Grille and Kimberly Macey of Girard Sharp LLP. 

The Patreon subscriber information class action lawsuit is Stark, et al. v. Patreon Inc., Case No. 3:22-cv-03131, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• Internet Video Privacy Violation Class Action Lawsuit Investigation
• Lemonade insurance biometric privacy $4M class action settlement
• Credit and debit card receipt privacy lawsuit claim review
• Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken class action alleges restaurants violate employees’ biometric privacy