SAG-AFTRA and WGA West File Amicus Brief in Support of Hoang Appeal in Hoang v. IMDb.

LOS ANGELES (Nov. 8, 2013) --- SAG-AFTRA and Writers Guild of America, West on Wednesday, filed an amicus brief in the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit supporting Junie Hoang’s appeal seeking a new trial on her charge that IMDb violated its privacy policy in accessing her private data.

Both SAG-AFTRA and WGAW strongly oppose IMDb’s publication of information commonly considered private and often posted against members’ express objections. This public exposure of personal information can be used for improper purposes and ultimately places members at risk for identity theft and the perpetration of scams.  Similarly, biographical information and personal details posted on the site have the potential to invade the privacy of third parties such as an artist’s family members or children exposing them to potential safety and security risks.

There is also strong evidence that IMDb’s publication of birthdates in this manner actively encourages and facilitates age discrimination in the casting and hiring process.

Entertainment professionals have little choice but to engage with IMDb to manage their reputation as embodied within IMDb’s database. These individuals have to feel confident that IMDb will not misuse information they submit in connection with their accounts.

IMDb is one of the most powerful resources in the entertainment industry, with the power to make or break careers, but that power must be exercised responsibly and within strict privacy and security guidelines.