YouTube is illegally collecting data from underage viewers
In the amidst following Facebook recent scandal's, Youtube also find themselves in similar allegations.
According to the children’s rights groups, YouTube has violated the clauses of Child Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). An act which limits a company from getting data of children's below the 13 years age unless they have the consent from parents.
Youtube has been blamed by more than 20 advocacy groups that they illegally collects data of underage kids and demands to improve contents policies for children's as well as pay a hefty fine of "tens of billions" of dollars for allegedly making tons of money for many years by Violating "COPPA" (Child Online Privacy Protection Act).
The complain reads,
As per Youtube's terms of service, children under 13 years of age are not allowed to make a Google Account, which is required to sign into YouTube.
The complainants say's that YouTube is a free service and anyone can watch YouTube videos without having an account.
According to research, obviously kids will say above 13 years old when making an account or use simply use parent's or someone else's account. The research shows 45% of Children's who use Youtube are under 13 years old.
Obviously, many kids either say that they are above 13 while making an account or simply use someone else’s account. A research shows that 45% of children have a YouTube Google Accounts are between 8 to 12 years old.
ALSO READ: YouTube accounts hacked & defaced popular music videos
There are many Youtube channels made especially for kids which have enormous viewership and generates tons of profits. For example a channel called "Ryan ToysReview" (Link) features a 6-year old kids who does videos on unboxing & testing toys and made $11 million in ad revenue in one year.
While Google in terms say's it does not let advertisers select age groups under 18, however there are still a number of ways to target children's with advertisements using keywords such as "Toys".
According to Google Spokeperson,
Nice post