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YouTube children’s data privacy overview:
- Who: The Information Commissioner’s Office said it will carefully consider a complaint filed by digital rights advocacy group 5Rights Foundation member Duncan McCann against YouTube.
- Why: McCann argues YouTube has violated the privacy rights of as many as five million children in the UK by allegedly harvesting their viewing habits.
- Where: The UK.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has said that it will review a complaint accusing YouTube of violating European privacy laws by allegedly harvesting the viewing habits of as many as 5 million children in the UK.
YouTube is accused of breaking what is known as the “Children’s Code” by allegedly recording the viewing activities of platform users that are under the age of 13 and without getting any parental consent, reports Law360.
The allegations are reportedly the first to be brought against a company under the Children’s Code, which was introduced in September 2021 as a way to try and protect children’s online privacy.
Plaintiff Duncan McCann, a father of three, argues YouTube is essentially an “adult stranger” that is following around children with a “virtual clipboard recording everything they do,” reports Law360.
YouTune accused of potentially ‘indefinitely’ storing allegedly harvested viewing data of child users
McCann reportedly claims the allegedly harvested data of children may also potentially be stored for an indefinite amount of time.
“And they are not just doing it with your child,” McCann said, reports Law360. “They are doing it with up to 5 million other U.K. children as well, resulting in an enormous amount of personal informa”on being gathered.”
McCann, reportedly a member of the digital rights advocacy group 5Rights Foundation, argues YouTube is in violation of the UK’s Data Protection Act and the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation.
The ICO said it will carefully consider McCann’s complaint — which was funded by the global foundation Luminate, reports Law360.
YouTube reportedly responded to the complaint by detailing some steps it said it has taken to increase children’s privacy protections, including by launching a dedicated YouTube app for kids and implementing more protective default settings for children.
“We remain committed to continuing our engagement with the ICO on this priority work, and with other key stakeholders including children, parents and child protection experts,” YouTube said, in a statement, reports Law360.
Last September, the ICO issued a notice of intent to potentially issue TikTok a fine of as much as £27 million after the agency said an investigation revealed the company was allegedly failing to protect the privacy of its child users.
Has your child’s online privacy been violated? Let us know in the comments!
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