Sling TV, the streaming platform owned by Dish Network, will pay $530,000 to settle a lawsuit from the state of California accusing it of violating consumer privacy laws and failing to provide adequate protections for children’s data.
Under the settlement, Sling TV has agreed to simplify its process for users to opt out of data sales and give parents clear tools and disclosures to limit how the company collects and uses their children’s information.
What the California probe found
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the deal following a broader investigation into streaming services suspected of violating the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), one of the strongest digital privacy laws in the U.S.
The CCPA requires companies to make it easy for users to:
- Stop the sale or sharing of their personal data,
- Access details on what information is collected, and
- Understand how that data is used or disclosed.
Investigators said Sling TV made this process unnecessarily complicated. Consumers trying to stop the sale of their personal data were redirected to cookie settings, even though cookies weren’t the only way the company shared information.
“Consumers who figured out that turning off cookies would not stop all selling and sharing of their information had to click through hard-to-find links and fill out a webform to actually opt out,” the complaint stated.
In addition, Sling TV reportedly failed to provide an in-app opt-out option — forcing users to copy a long URL into a separate browser and navigate multiple steps just to protect their privacy.
How the settlement changes things
As part of the agreement, Sling TV must:
- Create a simple, easy-to-use opt-out mechanism for consumers across all platforms, including SmartTV apps.
- Clearly label privacy and data-sharing settings.
- Introduce at least one dedicated children’s profile that does not collect personal data by default.
- Give parents tools to restrict data collection and targeted advertising.
California’s attorney general said the measures are designed to ensure consumers can exercise their privacy rights without technical hurdles or misleading options.
“Our investigative sweep looked at all the different ways consumers should be able to stop the sale of their data when using streaming services,” Bonta said in a statement. “We take privacy rights seriously and Sling TV was not providing consumers an easy way to opt out of the sale of their personal data as required.”
Sling TV’s response
Sling TV said it was pleased to resolve the matter but pushed back against some of the allegations.
“We are pleased to resolve with the California Department of Justice and have implemented privacy enhancements to address the DOJ’s concerns,” a company spokesperson said. “While we disagree with certain characterizations, Sling remains committed to respecting the privacy rights of its customers.”
The company was first flagged in 2024 during California’s privacy compliance sweep targeting streaming services, online retailers, and tech companies.
Why this matters
The settlement is part of a broader enforcement push by California regulators to hold streaming services accountable under the CCPA and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) — a newer expansion of the state’s privacy protections.
It also sends a message to other media and tech companies that confusing opt-out systems or buried privacy controls won’t be tolerated.
Under state law, users should be able to disable the sale of their data directly within apps or device settings, such as toggling a “Do Not Sell My Personal Information” option on a Smart TV streaming app.
Sling TV’s failure to do so placed it at odds with both the letter and spirit of California’s privacy statutes.
What’s next for streaming services
California’s Department of Justice has hinted that similar cases may be coming. Regulators have been investigating several streaming platforms for privacy violations, and further settlements or lawsuits are expected.
The crackdown reflects a growing nationwide focus on digital transparency and child privacy, echoing actions by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and other state attorneys general.
For consumers, it means streaming services will likely start offering more visible and straightforward ways to manage privacy preferences — including better parental controls and data protection features.
