Animation giant Walt Disney has agreed to pay a $2.75 million fine and overhaul its privacy practices to settle violation allegations of the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). The Disney CCPA settlement marks the largest settlement in the Act’s enforcement history.
For a global audience watching the evolution of data privacy enforcement, the Disney CCPA settlement is more than a state-level regulatory action as it signals a tougher stance on how companies handle consumer opt-out rights in an increasingly connected digital ecosystem.
Announced by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, the settlement resolves claims that Disney failed to fully honor consumers’ requests to opt out of the sale or sharing of their personal data across all devices and streaming services linked to their accounts.
Under the agreement, which remains subject to court approval, Disney will pay $2.75 million in civil penalties and implement a comprehensive privacy program designed to ensure compliance with the CCPA. The company does not admit wrongdoing or accept liability.
A Disney spokesperson said that as an “industry leader in privacy protection, Disney continues to invest significant resources to set the standard for responsible and transparent data practices across our streaming services.”
Also read: Disney to Pay $10M After FTC Finds It Enabled Children’s Data Collection Via YouTube Videos
Implications of the Disney CCPA Settlement
While the enforcement action stems from California law, the Disney CCPA settlement has international implications. Many global companies operate under similar opt-out and consent frameworks in Europe, Asia-Pacific, and beyond. Regulators worldwide are scrutinizing whether companies truly make it easy for users to control their data — or merely create the appearance of compliance.
The investigation, launched after a January 2024 investigative sweep of streaming services, found that Disney’s opt-out mechanisms contained what the California Department of Justice described as “key gaps.” These gaps allegedly allowed the company to continue selling or sharing consumer data even after users had attempted to opt out.
Attorney General Bonta made the state’s position clear:
“Consumers shouldn’t have to go to infinity and beyond to assert their privacy rights. Today, my office secured the largest settlement to date under the CCPA over Disney’s failure to stop selling and sharing the data of consumers that explicitly asked it to. California’s nation-leading privacy law is clear: A consumer’s opt-out right applies wherever and however a business sells data — businesses can’t force people to go device-by-device or service-by-service. In California, asking a business to stop selling your data should not be complicated or cumbersome. My office is committed to the continued enforcement of this critical privacy law.”
Investigation Findings
According to the Attorney General’s office, Disney offered multiple methods for consumers to opt out — including website toggles, webforms, and the Global Privacy Control (GPC). However, each method allegedly failed to stop data sharing comprehensively.
For example, when users activated opt-out toggles within Disney websites or apps, the request was reportedly applied only to the specific streaming service being used — and often only to the specific device. This meant that data sharing could continue on other devices or services connected to the same account.
Similarly, consumers who submitted opt-out requests through Disney’s webform were unable to stop all personal data sharing. The investigation alleged that Disney continued to share data with “specific third-party ad-tech companies whose code Disney embedded in its websites and apps.”
The Global Privacy Control — designed as a universal “stop selling or sharing my data” signal — was also reportedly limited to the specific device used, even if the consumer was logged into their Disney account.
Critically, in many connected TV streaming apps, Disney allegedly did not provide an in-app opt-out mechanism and instead redirected users to the webform. Regulators argued this “effectively leaving consumers with no way to stop Disney’s selling and sharing from these apps.”
Enforcement Momentum Under the CCPA
The Disney CCPA settlement is the seventh enforcement action under the California Consumer Privacy Act and the second action against Disney in five months. In September, the Federal Trade Commission fined Disney $10 million over child privacy violations.
Attorney General Bonta emphasized that “Effective opt-out is one of the bare necessities of complying with CCPA.” The law grants California consumers the right to know how their personal data is collected and shared — and the right to request that businesses stop selling or sharing that information.
Under the settlement terms, Disney must update California within 60 days after court approval on steps taken to comply. It must also submit progress reports every 60 days until all services meet CCPA requirements.
A Turning Point for Streaming Platforms?
The broader message from the Disney CCPA settlement is unmistakable: privacy controls must work across platforms, devices, and ecosystems — not in silos.
Streaming platforms operate globally, with accounts spanning smartphones, smart TVs, gaming consoles, and web browsers. Regulators are increasingly unwilling to accept fragmented compliance models where privacy settings apply only to one device or one service at a time.
In that sense, the Disney CCPA settlement may be remembered less for the $2.75 million fine and more for the standard it reinforces: when consumers say “stop,” companies must ensure their systems actually listen.
