Cartoon Network Urged Appeals Court to Dismiss Privacy Suit
The network filed an appellate brief on March 3, 2015, regarding the scope of the 1988 Video Privacy Protection Act.
Updated on Oct. 11, 2026 in Cybersecurity
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On March 3, 2015, Cartoon Network requested that the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals dismiss a lawsuit alleging it violated the 1988 Video Privacy Protection Act. The case centers on whether transmitting Android IDs and viewing history constitutes a violation of federal privacy law.
Why it matters
The case tests whether digital data previously considered anonymous becomes personally identifiable when third parties can link it to individuals via outside databases. The outcome will clarify if the 1988 statute regulates modern digital transaction practices.
The lawsuit concerns the transmission of 64-digit Android IDs alongside video viewing history. Cartoon Network maintains that these transmissions do not meet the criteria for regulated disclosures under the 1988 statute.
The players
Cartoon Network
A cable television network specializing in animated programming that relies on digital analytics for audience measurement.
Mark Ellis
The plaintiff who appealed the 2014 dismissal of a privacy lawsuit concerning data tracking.
Thomas Thrash, Jr.
A federal judge in Atlanta who initially dismissed the privacy lawsuit against the network.
The details
The plaintiff, Mark Ellis, alleges that Bango matched Android device IDs to specific individuals using external databases to track viewing habits. Cartoon Network argues that the Video Privacy Protection Act — a federal law established in 1988 to prevent the disclosure of rental history — was not intended to capture standard internet data transactions. The defense maintains that the law is not a broad regulation covering the entire internet landscape.
Timeline
The Video Privacy Protection Act was signed into law in 1988.
Judge Thomas Thrash, Jr. dismissed the lawsuit in 2014.
Cartoon Network filed its appellate brief on March 3, 2015.
The Tech Race
This case follows a similar dismissal in a privacy lawsuit against Dow Jones. It serves as a benchmark for how federal courts interpret the reach of the 1988 Video Privacy Protection Act regarding digital data.
This case determines if the digital identifiers on mobile devices are legally protected as personal information. The decision will influence how companies handle viewing history and device IDs across digital platforms.
The takeaway
The case highlights the tension between legacy privacy laws and contemporary data-tracking techniques. Watch the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals for a ruling that will define the reach of the 1988 Video Privacy Protection Act in the digital age.
Further reading
For broader context on how legal frameworks interact with digital tracking, visit the Cybersecurity section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by MediaPost.
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