YouTube accused of breaking child privacy laws and should be fined billions of dollars
YouTube is the latest tech company to face criticism over its collection of user data, with child advocacy groups accusing the video platform of illegally targeting children with adverts
YOUTUBE could be hit with tens of billions of dollars in fines over its handling of children who use its service.
A coalition of 20 child advocacy, consumer, and privacy groups are accusing the company of lining its pockets by snatching data from kids' devices and illegally using it to target them with ads.
They're urging the US government to investigate the Google-owned video platform for violating the Child Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), a law that limits how a company can collect data about kids under 13.
COPPA states that firms must notify parents and obtain their consent before scooping info on children.
"Google has made substantial profits from the collection and use of personal data from children on YouTube. Its illegal collection has been going on for many years and involves tens of millions of US children," reads the complaint filed with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
For YouTube (and its owner) that could potentially mean fines enforced by the FTC of tens of billions of dollars.
The groups – which include Common Sense Media, the Center for Digital Democracy and Parents Across America – claim that kids under 13 watch YouTube, even though the platform's terms of service forbid them to.
In the complaint they point to popular YouTube channels aimed at children that carry cartoons, nursery rhymes, and educational videos.
And when you tune in to YouTube it collects certain types of data from your device, including location and the type of hardware you're using.
The company also has a separate app for tykes, dubbed YouTube Kids, which launched in 2015.
But the groups cite a Common Sense Media survey that claims the majority of children (71%) are shunning YouTube Kids (which hosts age-appropriate clips) in favour of the main platform.
YouTube said that its kids app complies with all COPPA rules, and doesn't collect data for ad-targeting.
"Protecting kids and families has always been a top priority for us," a YouTube spokesperson said in a statement.
"We will read the complaint thoroughly and evaluate if there are things we can do to improve.
"Because YouTube is not for children, we've invested significantly in the creation of the YouTube Kids app to offer an alternative specifically designed for children."
The complaint comes amid calls for greater scrutiny over the handling of user data by social networks, sparked by the Facebook privacy scandal.
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is set to testify before Congress this week about his company's mishandling of data.
The child advocacy groups were due to announce their complaint last week but postponed after the shooting at YouTube's San Bruno headquarters, which saw vlogger Nasim Aghdam injure three before taking her own life.
This isn't the first time YouTube has been blasted for its treatment of children on its platform.
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Last year, it came under fire for allowing users to upload deceptive videos aimed at children that featured violent and sexual themes.
The company took steps to address the problem by restricting creators from making advertising money from the inappropriate use of family-friendly characters.
In November, the company began age-restricting this type of content in its main app when reported by users.
YouTube is also planning to launch a new version of YouTube Kids that will include a "whitelisted" section of clips that have been vetted by humans.
As in the past, the main version of the app will still be run by algorithms.
Do you think YouTube is safe for children? Let us know in the comments.
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