Google has agreed to a $30 million settlement to resolve a class-action lawsuit alleging the tech giant illegally tracked the data of children on YouTube. The agreement, reported by Reuters, marks a significant legal resolution regarding the platform’s handling of minor users’ information.
Allegations of COPPA Violations
The core of the litigation centers on claims that Google harvested personal data from children viewing content on the platform. Under the long-standing Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), collecting data from users under the age of 13 without verifiable parental consent is strictly prohibited. While data collection is a standard practice for modern digital advertising, the plaintiffs argued that Google’s mechanisms failed to respect these specific legal safeguards for minors.
Scope of the Settlement
Despite agreeing to the multimillion-dollar payout, Google maintains its innocence and denies the allegations brought forward in the case. The settlement is poised to impact a massive number of users across the United States.
Who Is Eligible for Payment?
The class-action lawsuit encompasses a broad demographic of users. Up to 45 million people in the U.S. may be eligible for compensation if they meet the following criteria:
- They watched videos on YouTube while under the age of 13.
- This activity occurred between July 1, 2013, and April 1, 2020.
Eligible participants may receive small payments as part of the distribution process, depending on the final approval and administration of the settlement funds.