America’s Newspapers has filed an amicus curiae brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in Salazar v. Paramount Global, urging the Court to reject an interpretation of the federal Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA) that could have significant consequences for local newspapers and other news publishers across the country.
America’s Newspapers represents more than 1,500 newspaper publishers and affiliated organizations nationwide. The association’s brief argues that Congress never intended the 1988 law to apply to modern news websites simply because they contain short video clips or use standard website analytics tools.
“The Video Privacy Protection Act was enacted nearly 40 years ago to protect the privacy of consumers renting videotapes — not to regulate today’s news websites,” said Dean Ridings, president and CEO of America’s Newspapers. “If expanded beyond its original purpose, the law could expose thousands of newspapers and other publishers to costly litigation while making it more difficult to provide readers with free access to local news.”
The association explains that many newspaper websites use common analytics technologies to better understand audience engagement and support digital advertising that helps fund local journalism. An overly broad interpretation of the VPPA could force publishers to eliminate these tools, reduce video content or place more news behind paywalls.
The brief also argues that newspaper websites are fundamentally different from businesses whose primary purpose is delivering movies or television programming. Short news clips accompanying written reporting are not the type of audiovisual materials Congress intended to regulate when it enacted the VPPA in 1988.
America’s Newspapers joined the case to help the Court understand the practical impact its decision could have on local news organizations that rely on digital advertising revenue to support independent journalism and keep news accessible to their communities.
The association’s brief asks the Supreme Court to affirm the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
