Operator of Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez fan sites sued
The operator of several unofficial fan sites for celebrities like Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato has been sued for gathering private information of its underage viewers.
The New York Daily News reports the Manhattan-based fan club company, Artist Arena, offered members the opportunity to create profiles and interact with others by posting comments. Users also had the option of signing up for newsletters dedicated to their favorite pop stars, including the Biebs, Gomez, Rihanna and others.
Artist Arena was charged in a Manhattan Federal Court on Tuesday with violating the Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act, which protects childrens privacy under the age of 13 on the web.
According to E! News, information obtained by the company included full names, email addresses, birth dates and cell phone numbers.
The company revised its policy on March 8, urging users not to provide their personal information. Artist Arena now operates only one fan site, BieberFever.com, which earns $99 yearly in membership fees. The site offers its members access to presale tickets for Biebers performances.
Photo Courtesy of INFDaily.com