Data Privacy Day 2026: Keeping Your Private Info Private and the Big Cases to Watch

Every year on January 28, Data Privacy Day, also known internationally as Data Protection Day, aims to do one simple thing: remind people that privacy isn’t abstract.

It’s personal. It affects your finances, your reputation, your safety, and even your freedom to browse, stream, and read without being tracked.

And in 2026, that reminder feels especially urgent because some of the biggest data privacy disputes happening right now don’t involve obscure “tech settings.” They involve everyday services millions of people use, like a sports media subscription to The Athletic, and entertainment streaming services like Sling TV.

This Data Privacy Day, make sure you’re up to date on current open matters and what consumers can do when their data is exposed, sold, or shared in ways they never agreed to.

And as always, if you believe you’ve suffered damages due to a data breach, you can get a free case evaluation in minutes with the helpful team at Morgan & Morgan.

In 2026, “Privacy” cases are becoming everyday cases

For a long time, data privacy harm was overlooked and undervalued until people started living with the consequences, such as identity theft that takes months to unwind, financial fraud and account takeovers, harassment from “trigger lead” spam calls after a credit inquiry, and even tracking that ties your online browsing and viewing habits to your real identity.

The legal system is catching up, and that’s why the cases below matter. They reflect a growing reality: companies can’t treat privacy as optional while still profiting from personal information.

Case spotlight: The Athletic and video privacy claims (VPPA)

The Athletic has faced claims alleging that a person’s video-watching history (think highlights and clips) may have been shared with third parties like Facebook without the kind of consent federal law may require.

There’s a federal law called the Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA) that was designed to protect video-viewing information. While it’s an older statute, courts and litigants have increasingly applied it to modern tracking tools, including pixel-based tracking that can connect what you watch to who you are.

If you pay for a service, you shouldn’t have to “pay again” with your private habits for sale. A lot of people wouldn’t care if a site knows “someone watched sports.” They care when it becomes: “This specific subscriber watched this specific clip at this specific time,” tied to identifiers that can follow them across the internet.

Case spotlight: Prosper and the risks of data breaches involving SSNs

Prosper publicly posted a breach notice describing unauthorized activity and its investigation and response steps. In other reporting and case pages discussing the incident, the concern is that sensitive personal information may have been accessed, including Social Security numbers.

This is different from the risks of “password leaks.” When a breach includes data like SSNs or other identity-linked information, the fix isn’t as simple as “change your password.” It can mean fraudulent credit applications, tax-related identity theft, long-term monitoring needs, and a higher chance of targeted scams using accurate personal details.

Prosper’s own notice describes the discovery of unauthorized activity and the involvement of a cybersecurity firm and law enforcement.

What consumers can do right now (even before any legal steps):

• Save breach notice emails/letters and dates
• Consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze
• Monitor bank/credit activity for unusual transactions
• Be skeptical of “verification” calls/texts that use real personal details

And if your identity is compromised after a breach, document everything. The timeline and the paper trail matter.

Case spotlight: Sling TV, privacy enforcement, and streaming-user claims

Sling TV has been in the privacy spotlight in two different ways.

Firstly, California’s Attorney General announced a $530,000 settlement with Sling TV entities tied to allegations involving the CCPA, including issues related to making opt-outs difficult and protections involving minors.

Secondly, consumer-facing claims and arbitration efforts have focused on whether streaming/viewing data was shared in ways that may violate privacy laws like the VPPA.

Why does this matter on Data Privacy Day? Streaming is intimate. It reveals interests, beliefs, medical concerns, family situations, and things people don’t necessarily say out loud. That’s one reason “video privacy” laws exist at all: viewing history can be deeply personal.

What these cases teach consumers (and companies) in 2026

“Consent” can’t be hidden in fine print

If a company is going to share sensitive data, the consent needs to be real, not buried, implied, or designed to be ignored.

Breaches can harm consumers

If your SSN is exposed, you don’t just lose privacy. You can lose time, money, and peace of mind.

Tracking technology is becoming a legal fault line

Pixels, device IDs, and cross-site identifiers have turned “marketing” into a surveillance ecosystem, and that’s why litigation is accelerating.

Your best leverage starts with documentation

If you think you were affected by a breach or unlawful data sharing, it’s not enough to suspect it. Save what you can: notices, screenshots, dates, account records, and any proof of downstream harm.

If you suspect your privacy rights were violated, contact Morgan & Morgan

Data Privacy Day is about awareness and action.

If you believe your personal data was exposed in a breach (like Prosper) or your viewing data was shared without proper consent (like claims involving streaming and media services), you don’t have to navigate it alone.

Morgan & Morgan can help you understand whether you may qualify for a claim, what evidence matters, and what next steps may look like. Privacy violations shouldn’t be brushed off as “the cost of using the internet.” When companies profit from personal data without permission or fail to protect it, consumers deserve accountability.

If you or a loved one were affected by any of these data privacy cases or other similar cases, you may be entitled to compensation. Find out more in minutes with a free case evaluation.