A proposed class action lawsuit has been filed in Hillsborough Circuit Court, Florida, targeting both Netflix and Meta Platforms, the company formerly known as Facebook. The litigation comes in response to consumer dissatisfaction with streaming experience issues during the Mike Tyson and Jake Paul boxing match.
The suit, led by plaintiff Ronald “Blue” Denton, argues that the companies engaged in an anti-competitive arrangement that compromised the user experience by limiting competition. As outlined in the complaint, approximately 60 million viewers tuned in to watch the fight but faced “Baddest Streaming on the Planet” issues, including widespread buffering and glitches.
Netflix and Meta have faced scrutiny in the past for data-sharing practices. The suit alleges that Netflix limited its competition by restricting its streaming service offerings, while also sharing user data with Meta to refine Facebook’s advertising algorithms.
Attorney Billy Howard of The Consumer Protection Firm, representing the plaintiffs, has noted significant consumer interest in joining the case, which may ultimately exceed $5 million in claims, potentially moving it to federal court under the Class Action Fairness Act. Daniel Wallach, a South Florida attorney not connected to the case, has suggested the possibility of arbitration given Netflix’s terms and conditions, which often require disputes to be resolved outside of court.
The live streaming issues were significant, with around 85,000 of the 60 million viewers reporting disruptions via platforms like Down Detector. Attorney Howard asserts Netflix’s acknowledgment of technical challenges during the event strengthens the case for a breach of consumer trust. Simultaneously, a similar lawsuit has been filed in California, broadening the potential legal consequences for the companies involved.