No. 25-459October Term 2025Before Arguments
Michael Salazar, Petitioner v. Paramount Global, dba 247Sports
The Court will consider whether the Video Privacy Protection Act, a 1988 law originally enacted to protect videotape rental records, applies to modern streaming services and their collection of viewer data.
Case status
- Current stage
- Before Arguments
- Latest event
- Review granted Jan 26, 2026
- Decision timing
- No window until argument is scheduled.
- What it's about
The Court will consider whether the Video Privacy Protection Act, a 1988 law originally enacted to protect videotape rental records, applies to modern streaming services and their collection of viewer data. The case tests whether someone must be a subscriber to audiovisual content specifically to have standing under the Act.
Question presented
Does the phrase “goods or services from a video tape service provider,” as used in the Video Privacy Protection Act’s definition of “consumer,” refer to all of a video tape service provider’s goods or services or only to its audiovisual goods or services?
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit / Review granted Jan 26, 2026
- Area
Privacy Law
Briefing
What it's about
The Supreme Court agreed to hear a fight over who counts as a "consumer" under the Video Privacy Protection Act, a 1988 privacy law. The justices will decide whether the law covers people who get any goods or services from a video provider or only its audiovisual goods or services.
Argument
The Court has agreed to hear the case, but oral argument has not been scheduled yet. The dispute centers on whether the Act's reference to "goods or services" reaches all offerings from a video provider or only audiovisual ones.
Impact
The answer could shape who may sue streaming and media companies over sharing or collecting viewing data. For example, it could affect whether a user of a sports-media site has protection even if the user did not subscribe to video content itself.
What is the main legal fight in Michael Salazar v. Paramount Global, dba 247Sports?
The Court will decide what "goods or services" means in the Video Privacy Protection Act's definition of a consumer. The answer determines who may use the law's privacy protections.
Why could this case matter beyond Salazar and 247Sports?
It could affect privacy lawsuits against streaming and media companies that collect or share viewer data. The ruling could widen or narrow who can sue.
What should people watch for next in this Supreme Court case?
Watch for the Court to schedule oral argument or issue another docket update. The prompt says there is no decision window yet.
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary materials plus reporting.
- Note
- Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 2, 2026
- Method
- Methodology