Formula 1 has reached a settlement to pay $5.5 million for violating federal law for sharing subscriber information. The investigation, conducted as part of the class-action lawsuit, indicates that legally protected data may have been illegally intercepted during visits to the Formula 1 website, particularly affecting customers who subscribed and viewed pre-recorded video content on the site.
Formula 1 violated the Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA) by sharing information about its subscribers
According to the lawsuit, if a user subscribed to the Formula 1 website and watched videos on the platform, their protected data may have been intercepted without their knowledge. If the data was compromised, the data subject could be entitled to compensation. According to the class action lawsuit, Formula 1 violated the Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA) by sharing information about its subscribers with third parties without their consent. This information allegedly identified consumers who had watched specific videos on the Formula 1 website.
Consumers are advised that if their data has been compromised, they may be entitled to compensation. Unauthorized interception of data is a serious issue that could lead to privacy breaches, potentially resulting in significant leaks of their personal information.
Consumers who watch a pre-recorded video between May 1, 2022, and June 24, 2025
The settlement benefits consumers who had a Formula 1 account and accessed Formula 1 digital properties in the United States to watch a pre-recorded video between May 1, 2022, and June 24, 2025. Under the terms of Formula 1’s data privacy agreement, class members may receive an equal share of the net settlement proceeds.
The US government and Facebook agreed that the tech giant would pay a $5 billion fine
Something similar happened to Facebook a few years ago. The US government and Facebook agreed that the tech giant would pay a $5 billion fine imposed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for irregularities in the company’s privacy system. “Despite repeated promises to its billions of users around the world that they could control how their personal information is shared, Facebook undermined consumer choice,” said FTC Chairman Joe Simons.
At the time, the investigation involved the 2016 United States elections. The investigation began in March 2018. Cambridge Analytica was a UK-based political consulting firm hired by Donald Trump’s presidential campaign during the last election. This data analysis firm, which was forced to close shortly after due to the scandal, used users’ private information through a social media app.
The final approval hearing for the Formula 1 settlement is scheduled for October 30, 2025
According to the information, each claimant is estimated to receive $17. However, actual payments could be lower or higher depending on the number of claims filed. The deadline for exclusion and objection is September 22, 2025. The final approval hearing for the Formula 1 settlement is scheduled for October 30, 2025.
If you subscribed to the Formula 1 website and subsequently viewed pre-recorded video footage
Formula 1 is one of the most profitable sports in the world. It’s widely known that it’s an expensive sport. It’s expensive to train and be a driver, it’s expensive to build an F1 circuit, it’s expensive to sponsor the sport, and it’s expensive to attend a sporting event of this magnitude. It attracts millions of fans, so the number of people affected by this privacy issue is not insignificant.
Please note that if you subscribed to the Formula 1 website and subsequently viewed pre-recorded video footage, your data may have been intercepted. If the company responsible for protecting your data has failed to comply with this obligation, it could be held liable for any exposure of your information, which could expose you to risks such as unauthorized or misuse of your data. To receive the benefits of the settlement, group members must submit a valid claim form by September 22, 2025.
