california privacy
Can Disney+ require me to disclose my age and gender in order to continue streaming?
<p>I just received this email a few moments ago:</p>
<blockquote>
<h1>Disney+</h1>
<h2>Provide your birthdate and gender to keep streaming</h2>
<p>Disney+ now requires additional information from the primary account holder, including your birthdate and what best describes your gender. To avoid any interruption to your streaming, please update your account with this information before December 8, 2022.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Screenshot:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/gmImO.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/gmImO.png" width="150" /></a></p>
<p>And <a href="https://help.disneyplus.com/csp?id=csp_article_content&amp;sys_kb_id=a3f7af9f87c791d44e3f7557cebb35d0" rel="nofollow noreferrer">they say</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Disney+ is also requiring what best describes your gender. This information will be used to personalize your experience, which may include ads, and in other ways consistent with our Privacy Policy</p>
</blockquote>
<hr />
<p>As per my understanding of the CRPA, the section on Data Minimization (<a href="https://www.osano.com/articles/california-privacy-laws-ccpa-cpra" rel="nofollow noreferrer">as reported by this website</a>) says:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Businesses must only collect and retain what’s “reasonably necessary” and “proportionate” to the intended purpose.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I already have an account in good-standing with Disney+ for about a year now - I'm sure they already know I'm a legal adult for the reasonable purpose of controlling age-restricted content within their streaming service - and to require a statement of gender disclosure is <em>just odd</em> - so I cannot fathom how they can hold my access to their service for ransom at the price of my personal information.</p>

<p>Disney's <a href="https://help.disneyplus.com/csp?id=csp_article_content&amp;sys_kb_id=a3f7af9f87c791d44e3f7557cebb35d0#6" rel="noreferrer">help page on this</a> says</p>
<blockquote>
<h4>I don’t want to provide my birthdate or gender. What can I do?</h4>
<p>Providing a birthdate is required for all Disney+ accounts/profiles while a gender is required for all accounts/profiles over the age of 13. Note that for gender submission, you may elect “Prefer not to say.” If you do not wish to provide your birthdate or gender, you may cancel your account by visiting your Account page or by contacting Disney+ Support.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>It's reasonable to provide proof of age: COPPA in the US requires it to protect those under 13. And you don't have to give them your gender.</p>

<p>I agree with @AndrewLeach as far as that answer goes, but would add an additional point. As the question notes:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Businesses must only collect and retain what’s “reasonably necessary”
and “proportionate” to the intended purpose.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>But, the intended purpose can legitimately be to use information gathered to facilitate advertising on the Disney+ platform, or another platform (either affiliated with Disney+ or otherwise), unless the privacy policy of Disney+ dictates otherwise.</p>
<p>The &quot;intended purpose&quot; does not have to be simply to facilitate the user's intended purpose.</p>
<p>I suspect that gathering information about users to facilitate targeted advertising is part of the business model of the platform.</p>
