Sling TV Settles with California AG for $530K for Privacy Act Violations

Sling TV LLC and Dish Media Sales LLC, a streaming service, have agreed to pay $530,000 to settle allegations that the company violated the California Consumer Privacy Act by failing to provide an easy method for consumers to stop the sale of their personal information and by failing to provide sufficient privacy protections for children.

The CCPA settlement with California Attorney General Rob Bonta arose from the California Department of Justice’s investigation announced in 2024, which focused on the compliance of streaming services and connected TVs with CCPA’s right to opt-out.

Under the proposed settlement, Sling TV has agreed to pay $530,000 in CCPA civil penalties and implement changes to ensure the CCPA opt-out is easy for consumers, requires minimal steps and considers the way the business interacts with consumers. The settlement, which is subject to court approval, also requires the company to provide parents with clear disclosures and tools to minimize collection and use of their children’s data.

Sling TV is an internet-based live TV service that offers both a paid subscription and a free, ad-supported streaming service. Sling TV uses its internet-based platform to deliver targeted advertising, using consumer data such as age, gender, location and income to personalize ads for viewers.

In 2024, Bonta’s office identified Sling TV as a target in its investigation into confusing methods to opt-out of the sale and sharing of personal information. Sling TV combined cookie preferences with the CCPA opt-out, even though to truly opt-out, turning off cookies was insufficient, according to the California DOJ.

Consumers were required to look for an embedded link to a webform and click through confirmation steps to complete their request. Even logged-in customers were required to fill out a webform with their name, address, email and phone number. Nor did the company offer kids profiles that would reduce the use of targeted advertising when children were watching, according to Bonta’s office.

Topics California