Given the far reach of technology into most people’s lives, there has been an increased interest in the privacy protections available to consumers. From mobile apps to social media platforms to television, companies now have access to more data than ever before.

Is Comcast Violating Privacy Laws?

There are some indications based on a white paper from Experian that Comcast and other cable companies are collecting private information about their customers. Some consumers claim that they never opted in to allow this and did not know that Comcast was tracking what they watched.

Some customers, however, have expressed concern that Comcast might be overreaching in their data collection. There is some indication that the company is collecting viewing data and then sharing that with third parties. Those third parties can then use this information to deliver targeted advertising to the consumers.

Has Comcast Violated the Federal Cable Privacy Act?

Those concerned about Comcast violating their privacy may want to educate themselves about the Federal Cable Privacy Act. This forbids cable companies from collecting viewing data connected to personally identifying information without appropriate consent from the consumer.

Some consumers have reason to believe that Comcast is collecting this information about what viewers are watching and then reselling that information, which could enable these same consumers to recover compensation if the subscribers have opted out of arbitration.

Can Comcast Force Me into Arbitration?

In November 2019, Comcast Cable Communications LLC. was successful in a bid to compel arbitration for a proposed class action lawsuit. That lawsuit argued that subscribers’ privacy rights were violated because the consumers were targeted with ads based on the personal information the company had collected without getting the subscribers’ consent.

According to that claim, some of the data collected by Comcast included product consumption habits, viewing histories, ethnicity, income, and education.

The only way to know whether or not arbitration is the only option is to speak with an attorney about your individual case.

Is There a Serious Surveillance Risk with Comcast?

If you are consumer concerned about Comcast violating your privacy, you are not alone. A recent article posted in The Guardian claims that AT&T, Horizon, and Comcast actually pose a bigger surveillance risk than Facebook but one of the challenges with this is that their surveillance is much more difficult to avoid.

According to that article, overturning Federal Communications Commission’s rules which happened under the current presidential administration, enabled companies like Comcast and Horizon to monitor online behavior and sell that data for the purpose of targeted ads.

Some states have already taken action to introduce legislation to reinstate or even extend previous privacy protections.

How Do I Know If I Have Been a Victim of This Practice?

If you suspect that you have received highly customized ads based on your viewing history or are the victim of targeted data collection, you could be eligible to initiate a lawsuit against the company if you think that you are a victim of Comcast violating your privacy.

This information should be shared with an experienced attorney. Top Class Actions can help to connect you with a lawyer who is familiar with Comcast privacy violation issues.

Learn More

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.