NJ Attorney General Announces Settlement with Cameo Over Consumer Protection Violations

Settlement involves transparency measures and compliance monitoring for the celebrity video platform.

NEW JERSEY - Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, along with 29 other Attorneys General, has announced a settlement with Baron App, the company behind Cameo, regarding potential consumer protection and FTC Endorsement Guideline violations. Cameo, a platform allowing users to hire celebrities for personalized video messages, was investigated for not providing appropriate disclosures for business endorsements and mishandling refunds.

“There should be clear lines to distinguish between congratulatory videos to your friends and relatives, and videos that advertise your store or business,” said Attorney General Platkin. “Moreover, pricing for anything you purchase should be clear and transparent.”

“When you pay money for a personalized service, whether it is for a relative’s birthday or to promote a business, you should know exactly what you are purchasing,” said Cari Fais, Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. “Your audience also needs to know that what they are viewing is truthful and not misleading.”

The settlement includes an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance (AVC) that outlines several key measures Cameo must implement. These measures include clear disclosure of the process for requesting Cameo for Business videos, automatic refunds for rejected requests, watermarking all paid videos, and ensuring compliance with relevant laws. Cameo will also maintain programs for monitoring and reporting compliance, disqualify non-compliant users, and retain records for five years.

New Jersey, along with states like Florida, Illinois, New York, and Texas, played a significant role in the multistate coalition that led to this resolution. The settlement aims to improve transparency and protect consumers using the platform.