2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumCongress Says Netflix Can Share What You're Watching
When the streaming-video site Netflix suffered an outage on Christmas Eve, millions of Americans confronted the terrifying possibility of an evening of spent talking with their relatives instead of re-watching Die Hard. But Netflix's technical snafu wasn't the only streaming-related news infuriating Americans over the Christmas holiday.
Last Tuesday, the Senate quietly altered a key privacy law, making it much easier for video streaming services like Netflix to share your viewing habits. How quietly? The Senate didn't even hold a recorded vote: The bill was approved by unanimous consent. (Joe Mullin of Ars Technica was among the first to note the vote.)
Here's what changed. For the last twenty-four years, ever since a local reporter easily obtained failed Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork's video rental records without his consent, the law has required video rental companies to get your permission each and every time they share information about the movies you rent or buy. Although Bork himself had no respect for the idea of a constitutional right to privacy, part of his legacy ended up being one of the strongest privacy-related laws in the country.
As of last week, that's all in the past: Video streaming companies that want to share your data now only need to ask for your permission once. After that, they can broadcast your video-watching habits far and wide for up to two years before having to ask again.
http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2012/12/netflix-video-privacy-facebook-sharing
Evergreen Emerald
(13,071 posts)I can no longer hide the fact that I watch Buffy The Vampire Slayer in the privacy of my home.
Will you think less of me?
Mz Pip
(27,454 posts)Mr Pip loved that show! I never watched it, though.
MassedPole
(242 posts)That I watch MLP Friendship is magic...
Mz Pip
(27,454 posts)Why would Netflix want to share what I watch? Who the hell would care that I like British mystery series?
Am I going to start to get little pop up ads on my screen telling me that Steve in Philly is streaming Debbie does Anybody?
RomneyLies
(3,333 posts)They want to show that Mz Pip is streaming Pride and Prejudice on Netflix to your entire friends list to try and get additional subscribers.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)And why only streaming....was there no mention of dvd rental?
LiberalFighter
(51,152 posts)Let's put it out there what they are "watching". And when they ask where we found that out we say we found out from NetFlix.
Mz Pip
(27,454 posts)If Senator Crappo is watching "The Hangover"
From jail.
Still Blue in PDX
(1,999 posts)There is the occasional Arrested Development episode as well.
I probably should be upset over the invasion of my privacy, but I really don't have anything to hide except the fact that I've missed work because I stayed up all night watching The Highlander when I should have been sleeping.
Cha
(297,778 posts)I'm retired now so there're no repercussions when I stay up all night watching something riveting because I can't sleep, anyway.
I'm like Mz Pip.. wondering why netflix wants to share their customers' viewing history? They seemed really excited about it but that's all I got. Just as long as their streaming doesn't go down like it did Christmas Eve.. I think I'm good.
Comrade_McKenzie
(2,526 posts)davidpdx
(22,000 posts)you watched Debbie Does Dallas four times in a week.