Earlier, we shared news that YouTube had launched a separate website for YouTube Kids. In that post, we mentioned the FTC investigation looking into complaints that YouTube had collected children’s information without parental consent and used the information for targeted advertising.
Politico has now reported that Google has agreed to pay between $150 and $200 million to resolve the investigation about YouTube’s alleged violations of a children’s privacy law.
The law being discussed is the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. Created in 2000, the law was amended in 2013 as mobile devices and social media became more prevalent and changed the way children consume content. As TechCrunch notes, the FTC is looking into making more changes and is currently seeking input about how to address sites that kids use but that aren’t designed specifically for kids.
Critics are saying that the fine isn’t enough and won’t help put a stop to violations in the future. Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA)was one of the individuals calling for the investigation into YouTube’s violations, and made the following comment after the settlement was made.
“Once again, this FTC appears to have let a powerful company off the hook with a nominal fine for violating users’ privacy online. We owe it to kids to come down hard on companies that infringe on children’s’ privacy and violate federal law.”
At the time of posting, both the FTC and Google declined to comment to Politico.
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