Crunchyroll class action alleges company shares user data with Facebook

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Crunchyroll user data class action lawsuit overview: 

• Who: Lisa Cuevas filed a class action lawsuit against Sony Group Corporation, d/b/a Crunchyroll. 
• Why: Cuevas claims Crunchyroll violates the Video Privacy Protection Act by sharing the personally identifiable information of its digital subscribers with Facebook without their prior express consent.
• Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in Illinois federal court.

Sony Group Corporation, owner of video streaming service Crunchyroll, discloses the identities and video media of its digital subscribers to Facebook without the proper consent, a new class action lawsuit alleges. 

Plaintiff Lisa Cuevas claims Crunchyroll violates the Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA) by knowingly disclosing the personally identifiable information of its subscribers with Facebook owner Meta Platforms, Inc. 

Cuevas argues Crunchyroll also violates the VPPA by sharing the computer file containing video and corresponding url of the media that is watched by its digital subscribers. 

Crunchyroll, as a video tape service provider, is prohibited by the VPPA of “knowingly disclosing consumers’ personally identifiable information,” including information that “identifies a person as having requested or obtained specific video materials or services from a video tape provider,” without express consent, according to the Crunchyroll class action. 

Crunchyroll class action alleges company uses Facebook Pixel to collect user data

Cuevas wants to represent a nationwide class of Crunchyroll digital subscribers who had their personal viewing information disclosed to Facebook. 

Crunchyroll uses a code installed on its platform known as the Facebook Pixel to collect the data of its digital subscribers, the Crunchyroll class action alleges. 

“Crunchyroll tracks and discloses to Facebook the digital subscribers’ viewed Video Media, and, most notably, the digital subscribers’ (Facebook ID),” the Crunchyroll class action states. 

Cuevas demands a jury trial and requests injunctive and declaratory relief along with an award of punitive damages for herself and all class members. 

The complaint is similar to a number of recent class action lawsuits filed against companies — including Paramount, Forbes and HGTV, among others — accused of illegally sharing the info of their subscribers with Facebook. 

Has Crunchyroll shared your personally identifiable information with Facebook? Let us know in the comments! 

The plaintiff is represented by Brandon M. Wise and Adam Florek of Peiffer Wolf Carr Kane Conway & Wise, LLP, and Patrick Muench and Michael L. Murphy of Bailey & Glasser LLP. 

The Crunchyroll class action lawsuit is Cuevas v. Sony Group Corporation, Case No. 1:22-cv-04858, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

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