Hubbard Radio seeks dismissal of consumer digital privacy lawsuit against WTOP
Hubbard Radio, owner of WTOP-FM, has asked a federal court to dismiss a consumer digital privacy lawsuit filed against it for allegedly sharing sensitive information with Facebook about digital subscribers to the website of WTOP-FM, Washington, D.C.
Filed in U.S. District Court in Maryland, the suit claims the company violated the federal Video Privacy Protections Act. It seeks class action status on behalf of “hundreds of thousands of other WTOP News digital subscribers,” reports Inside Radio.
The suit was filed by Toni Duplantis, who lives in Houma, Louisiana and says she has been a WTOP News digital subscriber for one year and has had a Facebook account since at least 2006, continues the Inside Radio report.
According to the complaint, WTOP knowingly discloses its subscribers’ personally identifiable info to Facebook, including a record of every video clip they view, without first getting their consent in the form of a standalone consent form that complies with the VPAA’s statutory requirements.
In its Motion to Dismiss, Hubbard argues that Duplantis’ amended complaint lacks “personal jurisdiction” over Hubbard, since the company is neither “at home” in Maryland, where the suit was filed, nor has it had any case-related contacts with the state that would be legally sufficient to try it in court there.
More here.
