What is the Vizio lawsuit settlement?
A proposed $17 million settlement agreement is inching toward final approval and should put to rest more than 20 consolidated lawsuits that alleged Vizio spied on Smart TV users and sold their data to third parties. Here’s what you need to know about the case and how to claim your piece of the settlement.
Did Vizio secretly track what you were watching on 16 million TVs?
A federal court has approved a $17 million settlement in the VIZIO smart TV class action lawsuit, which alleged that VIZIO secretly tracked — for 3 years — what people were watching on about 16 million smart TVs.
What happens if I take no action against Vizio?
If you take no action whatsoever, you won’t get any money from the settlement and you’ll forfeit your right to file a lawsuit against Vizio over the same claims. If you’d like to keep open the possibility of suing Vizio on your own, you must exclude yourself from the settlement. I need more information.
Why did Vizio get in trouble?
It allegedly tracked data by default, made tracking difficult to turn off, and compared those streaming habits against your age and gender to target you with ads. In 2016, some customers filed a class-action lawsuit against the company and in 2017, the FTC fined Vizio $2.2 million as well.
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How much is the Vizio settlement?
A $17 millionA $17 million class action settlement will end class action allegations that Vizio Inc. collected, stored, and shared viewing habits of smart TV owners without their knowledge or consent. Vizio smart TV owners who connected their television to the internet between Feb.
Is there a Vizio TV settlement?
In 2016, some customers filed a class-action lawsuit against the company and in 2017, the FTC fined Vizio $2.2 million as well. Last year, Vizio settled the lawsuit portion for $17 million, and that's where the payout is coming from.
Is there a class action lawsuit against Vizio TV?
The lawsuit claims that although Vizio touts the TVs as having “sensational picture quality” and “best-in-class picture processing,” the Irvine, California company has known the devices, which reportedly retail anywhere from $1,199 to $1,999, were defective since at least the time of their release into the market.
What was the biggest lawsuit won?
Tobacco settlements for $206 billion [The Largest Ever] In 1998, Philip Morris, RJ Reynolds, and two other tobacco companies agreed to a $206 billion settlement, at a minimum, covering medical costs for smoking-related illnesses.
How do I stop my Vizio TV from spying?
On 2020 TVs, go to the main menu and look for Admin & Privacy. You'll then see an option for Viewing Data, which is Vizio's ACR technology, as well Advertising and Vizio's Privacy Policy. Click on Viewing Data, and you'll have a choice of turning it on or off.
Why do Vizio TVs freeze?
Vizio TVs freeze for a number of reasons. The TV may be experiencing a firmware bug, a hardware malfunction, an issue with your internet connection or a problem with your system settings. To fix these issues, you can restart the TV or modem/router or try restoring the factory settings.
Is there a recall on Vizio TVs?
The recall is for 245,000 Vizio E-Series 39-inch and 42-inch televisions, which sold for between $370 and $450. It looks like the problem is with the TV stand, with Vizio telling customers to “immediately detach the stand, place the television in a safe location and contact Vizio for a replacement stand assembly.”
Does a Vizio TV have a camera?
Locating Camera and Mic on Vizio TVs Vizio does not have built-in cameras into its Smart TVs. The company sells a compatible webcam that may be used with the TV.
What is a Vizio Smart TV?
It offers all your favorite built-in apps, hundreds of free channels, and allows you to easily stream from your personal device to your VIZIO TV. What's more, you can interact with your SmartCast experience with VIZIO Voice, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, and Alexa-enabled devices.
Is there a downside to joining class action lawsuit?
The risk of a class-action lawsuit is that if you lose, you will not receive any compensation for your injuries. If you win, however, you will receive a financial or other non-monetary award.
How is a class action lawsuit paid out?
How Is a Class Action Lawsuit Paid Out? If your class action lawsuit is successful, you will receive a portion of the settlement or court award. Plaintiffs are paid by a lump-sum payment or a structured settlement. Smaller payouts are usually dispersed as a single payment.
What happens if you win a civil suit?
When you "win" a civil case in court, the jury or judge may award you money damages. In some situations the losing party against whom there is a judgment (also known as a debtor), either refuses to follow the court order or cannot afford to pay the amount of the judgment.
How long is the warranty on a Vizio TV?
How Long Is the Vizio Manufacturer Warranty Period? All Vizio TVs come with a one-year manufacturer's warranty for non-commercial use or a 90-day warranty period if they are used commercially.
Are Vizio TVs any good?
Overall, Vizio TVs are well-priced and have great picture quality. However, they don't have the high-end feel as some other brands, and their OS is laggy at times and not as full-featured as the competitors' as there are often a ton of bugs associated with their TVs that can even get worse over time.
Do Vizio Smart TV have cameras?
Vizio does not have built-in cameras into its Smart TVs. The company sells a compatible webcam that may be used with the TV.
What is a Vizio Smart TV?
It offers all your favorite built-in apps, hundreds of free channels, and allows you to easily stream from your personal device to your VIZIO TV. What's more, you can interact with your SmartCast experience with VIZIO Voice, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, and Alexa-enabled devices.
How much did Vizio settle for?
That’s when Vizio agreed to establish a $17 million settlement to pay people who bought their internet-connected TVs between February 2014 and February 2017.
Why did Vizio get free money?
The free money stems from a lawsuit filed by the U.S. government in response to Vizio not disclosing to customers that its internet-connected “smart” TVs were collecting information from viewers without their consent.
How to contact the settlement administrator?
Uncertain as to whether you qualify for this settlement? Call the Settlement Administrator at 877-252-4685 for more information.
Why did the FTC disapprove of Vizio?
In sum, the FTC disapproved of the fact that VIZIO did not provide clear notice to consumers about its data collection practices, particularly because the FTC did not believe that consumers would expect such collection. As such, VIZIO highlights important lessons for companies that collect, use, and disclose consumer data:
What does Vizio represent to consumers?
VIZIO represented to consumers that the Smart Interactivity feature, which made use of the ACR software, would provide program offers and suggestions, but never did.
What was the FTC's Consent Order?
The Consent Order found VIZIO’s actions both unfair and deceptive, assessed a $2.2 million fine, treated the viewing data as “sensitive,” required VIZIO to destroy collected data and seek opt-in consent going forward, and imposed a 20-year third-party monitor to ensure compliance. While both the Complaint and the Consent Order were voted for by all three FTC commissioners at the time, including former Chairwoman Edith Ramirez and current Acting Chairwoman Maureen Ohlhausen, it is Ohlhausen’s limited concurrence that highlights three important issues that may give companies an insight to future enforcement activities over the next several years, namely: the scope of sensitive information that requires “opt-in” consent; the important role consumer “harm” will play in future allegations of “unfair” acts and practices; and the importance of examining consumer expectations in context.
Is Vizio a dispositive case?
Several facts about VIZIO’s behavior—which are reminiscent of the Sears tracking software case—appeared to be dispositive in the FTC’s opinion.
Is Vizio data sensitive?
Treating the type of viewing activity information VIZIO collected from consumers as “sensitive” data in and of itself goes beyond the FTC guidelines established in its 2012 report in which the Commission limited sensitive information to financial and health information, Social Security numbers, information about children, and precise geolocation data. Previously, the FTC described how consumer behavioral information is capable of giving rise to sensitive inferences, but the data has not been treated as sensitive per se.
How much did Vizio settle the lawsuit?
Last year, Vizio settled the lawsuit portion for $17 million, and that’s where the payout is coming from. After subtracting legal fees and dividing the remaining money by the 16 million customers who used their Vizio TVs during the affected time frame, most customers won’t be seeing a tremendous windfall — but at an estimated $13 to $31, it should be enough for a month worth of Netflix if nothing else.
When did Vizio stop collecting data?
As part of the settlement, Vizio already promised to delete any viewing data it collected before February 6th, 2017. It also said it would change the opt-out language to “accept/decline” rather than “accept/settings,” so that users could more clearly decline to have their data tracked if desired.
Why is Vizio telling you how to get your money?
That’s because Vizio has settled a $17 million lawsuit for allegedly spying on what you’ve been watching — and it’s telling you how to get your money by controlling your TV, because that isn’t ironic or creepy in the least. It’s a feature that’s been spotted in development last September, so we knew it was coming.
Does Vizio track your data?
Customers — and the Federal Trade Commission — have accused Vizio of tracking data for years, even getting second-by-second details on what people were watching. It allegedly tracked data by default, made tracking difficult to turn off, and compared those streaming habits against your age and gender to target you with ads. In 2016, some customers filed a class-action lawsuit against the company and in 2017, the FTC fined Vizio $2.2 million as well.
Does Vizio deny the settlement?
Even though Vizio is notifying users about the settlement, it maintains its innocence, saying, “Vizio denies these allegations. The court has not decided who is right.”
What happens if you don't take action against Vizio?
If you take no action whatsoever, you won’t get any money from the settlement and you’ll forfeit your right to file a lawsuit against Vizio over the same claims.
What were the lawsuits about?
The 60-page consolidated complaint alleged that Vizio Smart TVs “watch what you’re watching while you’re watching it.” More specifically, the suits claimed Vizio tracks consumers’ behavior, including viewing history and content preferences, and sells this data to media companies for targeted advertisement purposes. These ads apparently didn’t just show up on Vizio Smart TVs, but also on any other devices that were connected to the same Internet network.
Where is the Ronald Reagan settlement hearing?
at the following address: Ronald Reagan Federal Building and United States Courthouse. 411 W. Fourth St., Santa Ana, CA, 92701. Courtroom 10A, 10th Floor.