Google Settles YouTube Data Lawsuit with $30M Agreement

Google has agreed to pay $30 million to settle a lawsuit alleging the company illegally collected data from children watching YouTube videos. Under the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), it is unlawful to gather data from users under 13 without parental consent.

The lawsuit claimed that Google violated this act by collecting data from underage users of YouTube, the popular video-sharing platform. Despite the settlement, Google continues to deny any wrongdoing in the case.

This class-action lawsuit potentially benefits up to 45 million people in the U.S. who were under 13 and used YouTube between July 2013 and April 2020. These individuals may be eligible to receive small payments as a part of the settlement.

This legal resolution underscores ongoing privacy concerns related to data collection, particularly involving children, while emphasizing the importance of adhering to privacy laws in the digital age. Notably, this is not the first time Google has faced scrutiny over privacy practices, highlighting the continuous need for transparent and ethical data handling policies.