Disney Agrees to Pay $10 Million Fine for Violating Minors’ Privacy on YouTube
Disney has agreed to pay a $10 million fine to settle allegations of violating the privacy of minors on some of its YouTube channels. The company failed to label some videos uploaded on the official Pixar, Disney+, and Disney Animation Studios channels as “made for kids,” which includes films from famous works such as Frozen, Coco, and The Incredibles. This omission prevented the automatic activation of protections provided by the law, allowing the collection of personal data and the sending of targeted advertising on content that has generated billions of views.
Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (Coppa) Violation
The lawsuit claims that this mislabeling violates the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (Coppa), a law first passed in 1998 that prohibits website operators from knowingly collecting personal information from children under the age of 13. According to a note published on the website of the US Department of Justice’s Office of Public Affairs, Disney’s actions allowed the collection of personal data and the sending of targeted advertising on content intended for minors.
A Disney spokesperson clarified that the agreement concerns exclusively the management of content on YouTube and does not involve the company’s proprietary platforms in any way. “Supporting the well-being and safety of children and families is at the heart of our business,” as reported by Axios. It’s worth noting that at the beginning of 2020, YouTube introduced the obligation for creators to explicitly report videos intended for minors, which aimed to enhance the protection of children’s online privacy.
Conclusion and Reference
In conclusion, Disney’s $10 million fine settlement serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting minors’ online privacy. The company’s failure to comply with Coppa regulations has significant implications for the collection and use of personal data. For more information on this topic, you can visit the source link Here