SAG-AFTRA, WGA support appeal of verdict in IMDb age case

SAG-AFTRA and Writers Guild of America, West are backing actor Junie Hoang’s appeal of the verdict in her age discrimination lawsuit against the entertainment industry website IMDb.

In 2011, Hoang sued IMDb and its parent company Amazon in federal court, alleging they improperly disclosed her age in her profile on the website.

In April, a jury ruled in favor of IMDb and found that the company did not violate its privacy policy in connection with Hoang, who is appealing the ruling on the grounds she did not get a fair trial.

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On Friday, the two Hollywood unions declared their support for Hoang’s appeal. They filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Pasadena supporting Hoang’s request for a new trial.

“Both SAG-AFTRA and WGAW strongly oppose IMDb’s publication of information commonly considered private and often posted against members’ express objections,� the unions said in a statement. “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.�

The unions added that 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.�

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