YouTube is accused of tracking children online and displaying personalized ads. According to The Register, this may violate Google’s agreement with the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the US Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
In 2019, YouTube and Google agreed to pay a record $170 million fine to the FTC to settle allegations of illegally collecting children’s information. At the same time, YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki announced to stop playing personalized ads in videos made for children.
However, a report by ad measurement company Adalytics is raising new concerns. In nearly 100 YouTube videos labeled “for kids,” Adalytics found ads for more than 300 brands selling adult products like razors and cars. In addition, some YouTube ads also contain violent content such as explosions, sniper rifles, or car accidents. An analysis by The Times found that when YouTube viewers click on ads on certain children’s channels, they are taken to the websites of branded companies that place ad trackers or profile people. use.
However, Google insists that personalized ads were never allowed to show on YouTube Kids. The company said the Adalytics report was misleading and seriously flawed, and there was no evidence that Google and YouTube violated a 2019 agreement with the FTC. As for Adalytics, the company disclaims responsibility and says the report does not provide any legal opinion.
US Senators Edward J. Markey and Marsha Blackburn said the allegations were alarming and asked FTC Chairwoman Lina Khan to look into whether Adalytics’ findings could be substantiated. In a letter to the FTC chairman, lawmakers wrote that YouTube and Google cannot continue to treat young people’s data as an unprotected commodity for profit. The letter emphasizes the need for the FTC and the US Congress to protect children’s online privacy and ban ads that target them
