Transparency and informed consent

  • Streaming platforms must clearly disclose what data is being collected and why 
  • Users should give explicit consent before their data is used for personalization or advertising 
  • Privacy policies must be easily accessible and written in user-friendly language 
  • Consent mechanisms should avoid dark patterns that trick users into agreeing 
  • Transparent practices build trust between users and platforms 

User privacy and anonymity

  • Data should be collected with minimal intrusion into personal privacy 
  • Platforms must anonymize data when it’s used for analytics or third-party sharing 
  • Personal identifiers like name, location, or payment details require extra safeguards 
  • Browsing history and viewing preferences should not be exploited without user approval 
  • Ethical design avoids excessive surveillance or micro-tracking 

Purpose limitation and data minimization

  • Platforms should collect only the data necessary for improving service and user experience 
  • Using data for unrelated or undisclosed purposes is ethically questionable 
  • Streaming services must avoid gathering sensitive information unless essential 
  • Long-term storage of data should be minimized and retention periods clearly defined 
  • Data collection should be proportionate to the value it provides the user 

Third-party sharing and accountability

  • When data is shared with advertisers or partners, it must be with user consent and oversight 
  • Platforms are responsible for ensuring third parties uphold privacy and ethical standards 
  • Misuse or data breaches by external partners must be addressed and disclosed 
  • Data brokers and unauthorized sales of user data violate ethical guidelines 
  • Users should be able to opt-out of third-party data sharing without penalties 

User control and data access rights

  • Users must have the right to view, modify, or delete their data from the platform 
  • Opt-out options for personalized ads, recommendations, and tracking should be available 
  • Ethical platforms offer data portability, allowing users to download their usage history 
  • Consent should be revocable at any time, not a one-time agreement 
  • Providing control increases user autonomy and reduces power imbalance