Privacy and consumer protection enforcement actions against media & entertainment companies.
20
Total Actions
$25.6M
Total Fines
Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones, leading a coalition of 33 other states, secured a jury verdict finding Live Nation and Ticketmaster liable for violating federal and state antitrust laws via anticompetitive conduct including monopolization of event ticketing services and large concert amphitheaters. The jury determined the companies suppressed competition, overcharged consumers, and forced artists to use their promotion services. Remedies and financial penalties will be determined at a subsequent bench trial.
New York Attorney General Letitia James and Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, leading a coalition of 40 state attorneys general, secured a jury verdict on April 15, 2026, against Live Nation and Ticketmaster for maintaining illegal monopolies in the live events industry. The jury found the companies engaged in anticompetitive practices including exclusive venue contracts, forcing competitors out of the market, and limiting artist performance choices, resulting in overcharged consumers. Remedies, including potential financial penalties and a monopoly breakup, are pending court approval.
Antitrust enforcement action where Oregon AG filed a lawsuit to block the $6.2 billion merger of Nexstar and Tegna, alleging it violates Clayton Act Section 7 by substantially lessening competition in broadcasting, which could harm local news and raise consumer prices.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, joined by attorneys general from seven other states, filed a lawsuit to block the $6.2 billion merger between Nexstar Media Group and Tegna Inc. The lawsuit alleges the merger violates Section 7 of the Clayton Act by reducing competition in local TV markets, leading to higher prices, less local news, and job losses.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta and a coalition of state attorneys general announced they will continue their antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation/Ticketmaster after the U.S. Department of Justice settled the case. The states aim to hold Live Nation accountable for anticompetitive conduct that harms consumers, artists, and venues in the live music industry.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a $2.75 million settlement with The Walt Disney Company, the largest CCPA settlement in state history, resolving allegations that Disney violated the CCPA by failing to fully honor consumers’ opt-out requests for the sale or sharing of their personal data across all devices and streaming services linked to their accounts. Disney’s opt-out methods, including in-app toggles, webforms, and Global Privacy Control implementation, had gaps that allowed continued data sale or sharing even after consumers opted out. Under the settlement, Disney must pay the civil penalty and implement comprehensive opt-out methods that fully cease all sale or sharing of consumer data upon request.
$2.8M
The FTC settled with Disney for violating the COPPA Rule by mislabeling videos on YouTube, which allowed the collection of children's personal data without parental consent. Disney must pay a $10 million civil penalty and implement measures to ensure proper video labeling and compliance with COPPA.
$10.0M
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.
$530K
California Attorney General Rob Bonta settled with Sling TV for $530,000 over CCPA violations. Sling TV failed to provide an easy-to-use opt-out mechanism for the sale of personal information and lacked adequate privacy protections for children's data. The settlement requires Sling TV to implement changes to ensure CCPA compliance, including improved opt-out processes and children's privacy safeguards.
$530K
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed complaints against multiple pornography websites for violating Florida's age-verification law by not verifying users' ages, allowing children access to harmful material. The law requires such sites to implement age verification, and violations can result in fines up to $50,000 per violation. The complaints seek injunctions, civil penalties, and compliance with the law.
The FTC released a statement by Chairman Ferguson, joined by Commissioners Holyoak and Meador, regarding the enforcement action against Disney Worldwide Services for alleged violations of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The statement addresses the case involving children's privacy protections.
The FTC alleges that Disney violated COPPA by failing to properly label children-directed videos on YouTube as 'Made for Kids,' allowing the collection of personal data from children under 13 without parental consent. Disney will pay a $10 million civil penalty and must implement a program to ensure accurate video designations, potentially incorporating age assurance technologies.
$10.0M
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a lawsuit against multiple online pornography websites for violating HB 3 by not implementing age verification to prevent minors from accessing harmful content. The companies have ignored prior warnings and are accused of unfair business practices. The suit seeks to compel compliance with state law.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a lawsuit against multiple online pornography websites for violating HB 3, which requires age verification to prevent minors from accessing harmful content. The companies, including XVideos.com and XNXX.com, have failed to implement age verification since the law took effect on January 1, 2025. The lawsuit seeks to enforce HB 3 and the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act to protect children from exposure to explicit material.
Connecticut Attorney General settled with Capulet Entertainment over the failed Capulet Fest 2024, which was abruptly relocated and partially cancelled, leaving ticketholders without refunds. The settlement provides up to $50,000 in consumer refunds and imposes future requirements including performance bonds and contractor commitments.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a $1.55 million settlement with health information website publisher Healthline Media LLC, resolving allegations that the company violated the CCPA and Unfair Competition Law. Violations included failing to honor consumer opt-out requests, sharing sensitive health data with third parties without required privacy protections, and using deceptive consent banners that did not disable tracking cookies. The settlement imposes injunctive terms, compliance requirements, and a civil penalty, marking the largest CCPA settlement to date.
$1.6M
The Supreme Court upheld a Texas law requiring pornography websites to implement age-verification measures to protect children from explicit content. Attorney General Ken Paxton is enforcing the law with fines for violations and has sued Aylo Global Entertainment for non-compliance.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton defended House Bill 1181 at the U.S. Supreme Court, which requires online pornography sites to verify users' ages to protect children from harmful content. The law was challenged by pornography distributors, but Texas won at the Fifth Circuit and is now defending its constitutionality. Texas has also sued Aylo Global Entertainment for non-compliance, leading to Pornhub's shutdown in Texas.
New York Attorney General Letitia James reached a $250,000 settlement with National Amusements, Inc. after an investigation found the movie theater operator failed to implement adequate data security, leading to a breach exposing personal information of over 23,000 New York employees. The company also violated the New York Shield Act by delaying notification to affected individuals for more than a year after the breach. As part of the settlement, National Amusements must pay the penalty and implement enhanced cybersecurity measures including encryption, password policies, and an incident response plan.
$250K
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a settlement with Multi Media, LLC, operator of Chaturbate, for violating Texas age verification law HB 1181. The company agreed to implement an age verification service on its website to prevent minors from accessing adult content. No monetary penalty was imposed in this settlement.