Google's video site YouTube has been fined $170 million to settle allegations it collected children's personal data without their parents' consent.
The Federal Trade Commission fined Google $136 million and the company will pay an additional $34 million to New York state to resolve similar allegations.
"YouTube touted its popularity with children to prospective corporate clients," FTC Chairman Joe Simons said in a statement. Yet when it came to complying with the law protecting children's privacy, he said,"the company refused to acknowledge that portions of its platform were clearly directed to kids. There's no excuse for YouTube's violations of the law."
YouTube Kids does not target ads based on viewer interests the way YouTube proper does. The children's version does track information about what kids are watching in order to recommend videos. It also collects personally identifying device information. The illegal harvesting of children's data was"extremely lucrative" for Google, Chopra wrote in his dissent. Like the recent settlement with Facebook, he asserted, the Google deal has"no individual accountability, insufficient remedies to address the company's financial incentives, and a fine that still allows the company to profit from its lawbreaking."
"A small amount like this would effectively reward Google for engaging in massive and illegal data collection without any regard to children's safety," deputy director Katharina Kopp said in a statement.
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