Groups ask FTC to Fine Youtube over COPPA

A complaint made on Monday by more than 20 consumer advocacy groups to the Federal Trade Commission asked for the investigation and fine of Google for alleged violations of the Children Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by YouTube. The law permits fines of up to $16,000 per violation.

The terms of service for YouTube warn children under 13 years of age not to use the service, but millions of children doing anyway according to the consumer groups. The result is that YouTube tracks the IP, devices, search history and other data of children without complying with the 1998 federal law requiring parental consent.

COPPA applies to operators of commercial websites and online services directed at children under 13 years old and operators of general websites or online services with actual knowledge that they are collecting, using, or disclosing personal information from children under 13 years old.

In its response to the media, YouTube said that it designed the YouTube Kids app, launched in 2015, as an alternative for children.

The FTC has brought more than two dozen cases of violations of COPPA. An email from FTC spokeswoman Juliana Gruenwald Henderson sent to the media reportedly said that the agency looks forward to reviewing the letter. A statement from Senator Edward Markey (D-Mass.), co-sponsor of the recently introduced CONSENT Act, published by the media said that he wants the FTC to look into the complaint.

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More Blog Posts on COPPA:

Oath to Pay $5 Million in Record COPPA Settlement
COPPA, the Federal Children’s Privacy Law, Turns 20
Do Not Track Kids Act Back in Congress