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Google Reaches Settlement in YouTube Children’s Privacy Case

By  |  August 19, 2025

Google has agreed to pay $30 million to resolve a lawsuit accusing it of unlawfully collecting children’s personal data on YouTube and using it for targeted advertising, according to Reuters. The settlement, which was filed Monday in federal court in San Jose, California, is still subject to approval by U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen.

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    The case stems from claims by parents and guardians of 34 children who alleged that Google violated numerous state privacy laws. They argued that YouTube content aimed at children—such as cartoons and nursery rhymes—was used to lure young viewers while the company gathered personal information without parental consent. Per Reuters, the proposed class includes U.S. children under 13 who used the platform between July 2013 and April 2020.

    Google has denied any wrongdoing as part of the settlement. This latest agreement follows a 2019 case in which the Alphabet-owned company paid $170 million to the Federal Trade Commission and the New York Attorney General to resolve similar allegations. At the time, critics argued that the fine was insufficient given the scale of the violations.

    Read more: Google to Pay A$55 Million Fine in Australia Over Search Deals With Telcos

    Earlier this year, Judge Van Keulen dismissed claims against several content providers, including Hasbro, Mattel, Cartoon Network, and DreamWorks Animation, finding no direct link between them and Google’s alleged data collection. Mediation efforts that began shortly after led to the current $30 million settlement, Reuters reported.

    Plaintiffs’ lawyers estimate there may be 35 million to 45 million eligible class members. If only a small portion—around 1% to 2%—submits claims, each claimant could receive between $30 and $60 before legal fees are deducted. Attorneys representing the plaintiffs intend to seek up to $9 million in fees from the settlement.

    Alphabet, Google’s parent company, reported $62.7 billion in profit on $186.7 billion in revenue during the first half of 2025, underscoring the relatively small financial impact of the settlement compared to the company’s overall earnings.

    The case is titled C.H. et al v Google LLC et al, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 19-07016.

    Source: Reuters