AMC Networks has agreed to settle a privacy-related lawsuit brought by subscribers of its various streaming services, including AMC Plus.
The settlement comes after a New York resident sued AMC last year over alleged violations of the Video Privacy Protection Act, which is meant to shield certain video-related activities from being disclosed to third parties without a viewer’s explicit consent.
The initial lawsuit complained that AMC incorporated a tracking pixel from Facebook’s parent company Meta into its various streaming services, which allowed AMC to obtain certain personal information from streaming video customers.
This month, the plaintiff and AMC reached a settlement that will see the media company pay $8.3 million in compensation to affected streamers. AMC has denied any wrongdoing, saying it opted for the settlement “to avoid the uncertainties and expenses associated with continuing the case.”
Customers who signed up for an AMC-owned streaming service between January 18, 2021 and January 10, 2024 may be entitled to cash compensation if they file a claim before early April. Those streaming services include:
- AMC Plus
- Acorn TV
- ALLBLK
- HiDive
- Shudder
- Sundance Now
The precise amount of the settlement will be determined by the number of people who file claims, with distributions expected after certain court- and attorney-related fees are settled. Eligible claimants will also be offered a free, one-week subscription to AMC Plus, according to a notice provided by one of the attorneys.
Only subscribers who file a valid claim are eligible to receive cash compensation and one week of access to AMC Plus. To file a claim for compensation, click or tap here. Most prior customers will begin receiving notifications with a unique identifier that should be entered during the claims process, though claims can be made without the code. All valid claims must be submitted by April 9, 2024.
As part of the settlement, AMC has agreed to remove the problematic tracking pixel from its streaming services and to stop using other similar third-party tracking software.
A court is expected to approve the settlement on May 16.
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