BuzzFeed Inc

From time to time, we may become involved in legal proceedings and claims arising in the ordinary course of business, including, but not limited to, disputes in the areas of contracts, securities, privacy, data protection, content regulation, intellectual property, consumer protection, e-commerce, marketing, advertising, messaging, rights of publicity, libel and defamation, health and safety, employment and labor, product liability, accessibility, competition, and taxation. We record a liability when we believe that it is probable that a loss will be incurred by us and the amount of that loss can be reasonably estimated. Based on our current knowledge, we do not believe that there is a reasonable probability that the final adjudication of any such pending or threatened legal proceedings to which we are a party, will, either individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. Although the outcome of litigation and other legal matters is inherently subject to uncertainties, we feel comfortable with the adequacy of our insurance coverage.

Video Privacy Protection Act

On May 16, 2023, a lawsuit titled Hunthausen v. BuzzFeed, Inc. was filed against us in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, asserting class action claims for alleged violation of the Video Privacy Protection Act (“VPPA”) based on the claimed transmission of personally identifying information via the Meta pixel, Google Analytics, and the TikTok pixel, all of which are purportedly connected to posts on the BuzzFeed.com website. The putative class plaintiff was seeking an injunction to stop further alleged wrongful conduct, to recover unspecified compensatory damages and an award of costs, and any further appropriate relief. The matter was settled on January 4, 2024 and is now disposed.

On August 4, 2023, we received 8,927 individual demands for JAMS arbitration in California, all of which allege that we violated the VPPA by transmitting personally identifying information via the Meta pixel, purportedly connected to posts on the BuzzFeed website. Each claimant was seeking to recover damages in the amount of $2,500 (actual dollars) for each alleged violation of the VPPA. We provisionally settled these claims on January 29, 2024.

On August 15, 2023, we received (1) 5,247 individual demands for JAMS arbitration in California, all of which allege that we violated the VPPA by transmitting personally identifying information via the use of various pixels purportedly in connection with the HuffPost.com website; and (2) 12,176 individual demands for JAMS arbitration in California, all of which allege that we violated the VPPA by transmitting personal identifying information via the use of various pixels purportedly in connection with the BuzzFeed.com website. Each claimant was seeking to recover damages in the amount of $2,500 (actual dollars) for each alleged violation of the VPPA, as well as punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and costs, and equitable relief. We provisionally settled these claims on January 16, 2024.

On October 31, 2023, we received 590 individual demands for JAMS arbitration in California, all of which allege that we violated the VPPA by transmitting personally identifying information via the use of various pixels purportedly in connection with the BuzzFeed.com website. Each claimant was seeking to recover damages in the amount of $2,500 (actual dollars) for each alleged violation of the VPPA. We provisionally settled these claims on January 29, 2024.

Mass Arbitrations

Two mass arbitrations (the “Arbitrations”) were initiated before the American Arbitration Association on March 15, 2022 against us and certain of our executive officers and directors (together, the “BuzzFeed Defendants”) and Continental Stock Transfer Corporation by 91 individuals previously employed by Legacy BuzzFeed (the “Claimants”). The Claimants alleged that they were harmed when they were allegedly unable to convert their shares of Class B common stock to Class A common stock and sell those shares on December 6, 2021, the first day of trading following the Business Combination, and asserted claims for negligence, misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, and violation of Section 11 of the Securities Act. The Claimants sought to recover unspecified compensatory damages, an award of costs, and any further appropriate relief.

On April 21, 2022, the BuzzFeed Defendants filed a complaint in the Delaware Court of Chancery seeking to enjoin the Arbitrations on the grounds that, inter alia, the Claimants’ purported causes of action arise from their rights as our shareholders, are governed by our charter, including its forum selection provision, and are therefore not arbitrable (the “Delaware Action”). The complaint sought declaratory and injunctive relief. A hearing on the merits of the Delaware Action was held on July 26, 2022. On October 28, 2022, the Court of Chancery granted the Company’s motion to permanently enjoin the Claimants’ arbitration claims.

On January 17, 2023, the Claimants filed amended statements of claim in the Arbitrations against BuzzFeed Media Enterprises, Inc., our wholly-owned subsidiary, and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Corporation, the transfer agent for 890 and, later, our transfer agent. The amended statements of claim likewise allege that the Claimants were harmed when they were allegedly unable to convert their shares of Class B common stock to Class A common stock and sell those shares on the first day of trading following the Business Combination. The Claimants allege claims for breach of contract and the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, misrepresentation, and negligence, and seek to recover unspecified compensatory damages, an award of costs, and any further appropriate relief.

On March 29, 2023, BuzzFeed Media Enterprises, Inc., filed a complaint in the Delaware Court of Chancery seeking to enjoin the Arbitrations on the grounds that, inter alia, the Claimants’ purported causes of action arise from their rights as the Company’s shareholders, are governed by our charter, including its forum selection provision, and are therefore not arbitrable. The complaint seeks declaratory and injunctive relief. The parties cross-moved for summary judgment.

On November 20, 2023, the Court of Chancery heard oral arguments on our motion for summary judgment and the Claimants’ cross-motion to dismiss the Company’s complaint. The arbitrations are stayed until the Court resolves the motions on the merits. The decision of the Court is pending.

California Invasion of Privacy Act

On April 11, 2024, a lawsuit titled Chih-Yuan Changet al. v. BuzzFeed, Inc. was filed against us in the Southern District of New York, alleging that we, by causing the Sharethrough, IQM, and Dotomi trackers to be installed on website visitors’ internet browsers, are collecting visitors’ personal identifying information without their consent, in violation of the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA). Plaintiff, additionally, seeks class certification. We plan to move to dismiss the claims.

For information regarding other legal proceedings in which we are involved, refer to Note 14 to the condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for additional details.