Chess.com Shares Members’ Data with Third Parties Without Consent, Class Action Claims

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A proposed class action lawsuit alleges that Chess.com illegally shares members’ video-viewing histories and other personal information with third parties.

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According to the 12-page complaint, back-end tracking tools integrated into the online chess platform, which reportedly has over 100 million members, collect data about members’ actions on the site, including which prerecorded matches or lessons they watch. The filing claims defendant Chess.com, LLC then sends these details and other personally identifying information to third-party advertisers without asking members for permission.

The case contends that Chess.com’s alleged disclosures violate the Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA), a federal law that prohibits “video tape service provider[s]” from knowingly disclosing information that identifies the video materials a consumer has requested or watched without their informed written consent.

Chess.com even admits in its privacy policy that it collects and shares a slew of information with its affiliates, partners, service providers and advertising networks, including members’ names, IP addresses, email addresses, browsing history and data about their interactions with its services, the complaint says. Critically, the case claims, the company’s failure to obtain permission for these disclosures means that consumers remain unaware their personal information is being sent to such third parties.

“By disclosing its subscribers’ [personally identifiable information], which undeniably reveals both an individual’s identity and the video materials they have requested from [the defendant’s] services, [Chess.com] has intentionally and knowingly violated the VPPA,” the filing alleges.

One tool the website uses to amass user data is called the Meta pixel, which transmits consumers’ information to Facebook for targeted advertising purposes, the Chess.com lawsuit says.

The privacy case looks to represent anyone in the United States who had a Chess.com membership and viewed prerecorded video materials on the site since June 3, 2022.

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