The settlement was reached in a pending VIZIO smart TV class-action lawsuit. In exchange for paying $2.2 million, the company has agreed to stop unauthorized tracking and collecting data on TV viewing. It has also agreed to prominently disclose the collection of such information and obtain consumers’ explicit consent before sharing it. It is unclear when and how the settlement will be finalized. If you have purchased a VIZIO smart TV between February 1, 2014, and February 6, 2017, you may be eligible for compensation.
The lawsuit alleged that Vizio tracked customer data for years, gathering second-by-second details about what consumers watched and when.
Although consumers were unable to opt-out of this data collection, the company said this was an integral part of its “smart interactivity” and was necessary to offer more personalized content to its customers. The company also made it difficult for customers to turn off these tracking features.
The Vizio smart TVs feature a feature called SmartCast. This feature allows the user to stream content from sources like Apple AirPlay and Google Chromecast to their TV. The company claimed that it failed to disclose the source code to consumers, despite knowing that the software could potentially be misused. The company did not acknowledge the allegations in the class-action lawsuit. The case will go on to a trial, where the judge will make a final decision.
The Vizio settlement highlights the importance of injunctive relief.
The company agreed to implement a consent model for all Vizio Smart TVs, requiring consumers to give their consent before the company can track their viewing habits. Moreover, Vizio agreed to post prominent notifications on the screen of each TV, add additional language in the user’s quick start guide, and delete disputed viewing data.
In a separate case filed by consumers, Vizio was found guilty of violating the FTC’s data privacy laws and selling consumer information to advertisers without clear consent and disclosure. The settlement stipulated that the company will remove all of the advertising-related information from its smart TVs. However, this settlement does not address the privacy concerns of consumers. Further, the agreement includes provisions that will help consumers in the future.
The FTC has approved the settlement in principle.
In addition, Vizio has agreed to delete all viewing data from its customers’ smart TVs before February 6, 2017. This settlement is an important step in preventing these companies from wasting valuable time and money. The company will be forced to make the necessary changes to avoid these issues in the future. The resulting settlement is the best result of this litigation. In addition, the settlement will help consumers obtain compensation for the damages they’ve suffered.
A class-action lawsuit against Vizio has been filed in several federal courts since November 2015. The complaints claim that the company uses a default feature in its smart TVs that track viewing information. This tracking feature matches the viewing data to the customer’s IP address. This information is then sold to advertisers and other third parties. The settlement is a major victory for consumer rights and privacy. It’s also a good sign for consumers who are concerned about the privacy of their smart TVs.
The Vizio smart TV class action settlement covers all models that were purchased between 2014 and 2017.
The settlement does not include Vizio’s SmartCast platform. It streams content from Apple AirPlay and Google Chromecast devices. The terms of the deal are not final yet. The plaintiffs will receive monetary damages based on a two- to five percent claim rate. The company has agreed to pay other non-monetary relief.
The settlement stipulated that the company must make certain changes to its business practices. The company must provide consumers with a clear opt-out option, and the company must remove all of the data it collects about its usage. The deal also requires Vizio to amend its on-screen disclosures to make them more readable. Lastly, the deal contains several other non-monetary reliefs. The new terms require the companies to change their policies and update their on-screen disclosures.
