The lawsuit was prompted by a 2018 study by security researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, which found that 2,667 apps in the Designated for Families program were mislabeled as being directed at mixed-age audiences rather than primarily aimed at children. The plaintiffs contend that the study, which identified Tiny Labs apps as a case study, should suffice in alleging that Google had knowledge of the issues with these apps.
In addition to seeking damages, the plaintiffs are asking for an injunction that would require Google to delete or sequester all personal information collected from children under 13 without proper parental consent. They argue that millions of children’s data was unlawfully collected, allowing advertisers to target them.
Google countered that it had taken corrective steps following its 2021 settlement with New Mexico and that the plaintiffs lack standing to seek the requested injunction. Judge Pitts, however, allowed the plaintiffs to proceed with their claims for injunctive relief, ruling that the ongoing harm alleged by the plaintiffs warrants such relief.
