Penalty Amount
$530,000
California Attorney General Rob Bonta secured a $530,000 settlement with Sling TV LLC and Dish Media Sales LLC, resolving allegations that the streaming service violated the CCPA by failing to provide an easy-to-use opt-out mechanism for the sale of personal information and insufficient privacy protections for children. The settlement, subject to court approval, requires Sling TV to implement streamlined opt-out processes across all devices, stop redirecting users to cookie preferences for CCPA opt-outs, and add kid-specific profiles with default opt-out of data sales and targeted advertising. This is the first enforcement action from the DOJ's 2024 investigative sweep of streaming services.
Sling TV must pay $530,000 in CCPA civil penalties. The company is permanently enjoined from directing consumers to cookie preferences for CCPA opt-out requests, requiring logged-in users to submit redundant personal information via webforms to opt out, and failing to provide opt-out mechanisms within its streaming apps on connected devices. Sling TV must also implement kid-specific user profiles that default to opt-out of personal information sales and targeted advertising, provide parents with clear privacy disclosures and tools to protect children's data, and ensure opt-out processes are easy to use, require minimal steps, and are accessible across all platforms. The settlement is subject to court approval.
In-house legal teams should review customer-facing privacy policies, terms of service, and vendor agreements with advertising partners, connected TV device manufacturers, and app store platforms to align with this enforcement action. Specifically, review opt-out process clauses to prohibit linking CCPA opt-out requests to cookie preference settings, eliminate redundant information requirements for logged-in users exercising opt-out rights, and mandate opt-out functionality across all streaming apps and connected devices. For children's data, review clauses related to data collection and targeted advertising to require kid-specific user profiles with default opt-out of personal information sales and targeted ads, and affirmative opt-in consent for users under 16. Privacy policy clauses should be updated to include clear, accessible disclosures for parents regarding children's data practices and available privacy tools.
Entity
Sling TV LLC and Dish Media Sales LLC
Also known as: Sling TV
Industry
Media & EntertainmentOfficial Press Release
https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-secures-530000-settlement-sling-tv-first-enforcement
Complaint For Injunction, Civil Penalties, And Other Equitab
https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/press-docs/Complaint%20For%20Injunction%2C%20Civil%20Penalties%2C%20And%20Other%20Equitable%20Relief.pdf
Final Judgment and Permanent Injunction (People v Sling TV)
https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/press-docs/Final%20Judgment%20and%20Permanent%20Injunction%20%28People%20v%20Sling%20TV%29.pdf
California Attorney General Enforcement Page
https://oag.ca.gov/privacy/privacy-enforcement-actions
"Sling TV LLC and Dish Media Sales LLC (Sling TV)"
"agreed to pay $530,000 in CCPA civil penalties"
"violated the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)"
"failing to provide an easy-to-use method for consumers to stop the sale of their personal information and by failing to provide sufficient privacy protections for children"
"did not offer kids profiles that would reduce the use of targeted advertising when children are watching or otherwise obtain affirmative 'opt-in' authorization when minors under the age of 16 were likely watching"
"Thursday, October 30, 2025"
A bipartisan coalition of 33 state attorneys general, led by Minnesota AG Keith Ellison, began trial against Meta Platforms, Inc., alleging the company knowingly designed and deployed harmful features on Facebook and Instagram that drive children and teens to use the platforms compulsively, while falsely assuring parents and the public that its platforms were safe for young users. The states also allege Meta illegally collected personal information from children under 13 without parental consent, violating COPPA. The trial opened before Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, with the states seeking monetary penalties and injunctive relief.
A coalition of 12 state attorneys general, led by Colorado AG Phil Weiser, obtained a temporary restraining order from a federal court in California to halt the proposed $110 billion merger of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. by Paramount Skydance Corporation. The lawsuit alleges the merger violates Section 7 of the Clayton Act by substantially lessening competition in film distribution, anticipated blockbuster film distribution, and licensing cable TV channels.
The California Privacy Protection Agency (CalPrivacy) joined a coalition of 18 Attorneys General and state agencies in opposing the proposed SECURE Data Act, a federal privacy bill that would preempt stronger state privacy laws like the CCPA. The coalition argues the bill would weaken consumer privacy protections, limit enforcement remedies, and undermine California's Delete Request and Opt-out Platform (DROP).
A bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general began trial against Meta Platforms, Inc., alleging the company knowingly designed addictive features on Facebook and Instagram that harm children and teens, deceived parents about platform safety, and illegally collected personal information from children under 13 without parental consent in violation of COPPA. The states seek monetary penalties, an injunction to stop unlawful practices, and other relief. The trial is being litigated in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
$12.8M
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with multiple district attorneys and the California Privacy Protection Agency, announced a $12.75 million settlement with General Motors for illegally selling hundreds of thousands of Californians' location and driving data to data brokers Verisk and LexisNexis without notice or consent. The settlement includes the largest CCPA penalty to date, a five-year ban on selling driving data to consumer reporting agencies, and requirements to delete retained data and implement a robust privacy program.
The California Privacy Protection Agency Board voted to support two bills (AB 1542 and SB 1106) and took a 'support if amended' position on a third bill (AB 883). These bills aim to strengthen privacy protections by expanding sensitive data protections, improving deletion rights under the Delete Act, and providing expedited deletion for elected officials and judges.