Google Pays $30 Million to Resolve YouTube Children Privacy Lawsuit

Alphabet’s Google agreed to pay $30 million to settle a proposed class action alleging it illegally collected personal data from children under 13 who watched YouTube and used the information to deliver targeted advertising. A preliminary settlement was filed late Monday in federal court in San Jose and awaits approval from U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen. The lawsuit, brought by the parents or guardians of 34 children, contended that Google violated dozens of state privacy laws despite a 2019 agreement with U.S. regulators that required the company to curb data collection from minors. The new class would cover U.S. children who viewed YouTube videos between July 2013 and April 2020, a pool lawyers estimate at 35 million to 45 million people. If 1 %–2 % of eligible users file claims—comparable to similar settlements—individual payments are expected to range from about $30 to $60 after legal fees, which plaintiffs’ lawyers plan to cap at up to $9 million. Google denies wrongdoing. The case is C.H. et al v. Google LLC et al in the Northern District of California.