Consumer advocates want maximum penalty for Google, YouTube over alleged violations of children’s online privacy

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Consumer advocates are encouraging the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to take action against Google and YouTube for allegedly failing to protect the online privacy of children.

In a letter to the FTC, the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) and Center for Digital Democracy (CDD) alleged that Google and YouTube are violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The consumer advocates want the regulator to impose the maximum penalty against both tech companies.

In April last year, CCFC and CDD through the Institute for Public Representation at Georgetown Law (IPR) requested the FTC to investigate the deceptive and unfair marketing practices on YouTube kids. The consumer advocates also asked the regulator to probe the tech company’s promotion of unfair and deceptive influencer marketing.

Google, YouTube are violating COPPA

CCFC and CDD noted that YouTube s making so much money by hosting channels and videos designed for kids such as nursery rhymes, cartoons and others. However, it fails to obtain parental consent before collecting children’s personal information, thus violating COPPA.