Do your children watch YouTube? If so, their personal data may have been used to increase YouTube’s ad revenue gains.
Under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), parents must give consent to companies before they can use the personal data of children under 13. YouTube attempted to circumvent this law by refusing to acknowledge children-oriented videos on its site to potential business partners. YouTube is clearly prioritizing money over the privacy of children.
The good news is that YouTube is paying $170 million in a lawsuit over this issue. However, this is but a slap on the wrist compared to the billions of projected revenue YouTube is expected to rake in this year. This is less punishment and more acknowledgment that YouTube can do whatever it wants with only minor penalties.
Yes, the fine is too small. But worse: A small fine encourages Google to do more of the same. The FTC effectively becomes a co-conspirator to big tech. https://t.co/MYcfbwPSgg
— Scott Galloway (@profgalloway) September 4, 2019
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