YouTube has been accused of violating a UK data privacy code designed to protect children by collecting the viewing data of children under the age of 13. Duncan McCann, a campaigner and member of the 5Rights Foundation, has filed an official complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), alleging that YouTube collects information about the videos children watch, where they watch them, and on what device.
Alphabet, the parent company of Google, is the owner of this platform. YouTube has always stated that its service is not intended for children under the age of 13, but in 2021, 89% of children in the United Kingdom between the ages of three and seventeen will use the video platform.
YouTube stated in response to accusations that it had invested in protecting families by treating all children’s content as if it were being viewed by children, even on adult accounts. In addition, the company stated that it had disabled the default auto-play on videos, as well as ad targeting and personalization for all children.
Mr. McCann has requested that YouTube create a process whereby adults can opt-in to tracking, recommendation systems, profiling, and targeted advertisements, so that data is only collected from those who have consented. He believes that this would safeguard the information of minors while allowing adults to fully utilise the platform.
A US regulator fined YouTube $170m (£139m) in 2019 for violating children’s privacy laws. This followed a similar allegation that the organisation collected data on children under 13 without parental consent. YouTube did pay the fine and change its business practises as a result, despite not admitting fault.
The ICO is currently reviewing Mr. McCann’s complaint and has stated that companies found to be in violation of the children’s internet code may be subject to hefty fines. If found guilty of violating data protection laws again, YouTube could face severe penalties.
Duncan McCann, a 5Rights Foundation activist, has filed a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) alleging that YouTube collects viewing data from children under the age of 13 in violation of a UK data privacy code intended to protect them. McCann believes that any data collected should only be done so with parental consent, and that this process should be made clear to users upon entering YouTube. The platform has responded by stating that it has invested in family protection by treating all children’s content as if it were being viewed by children.
YouTube was fined $170 million (£139 million) by a US regulator in 2019 for violating children’s privacy laws. Although YouTube did not admit fault, it paid the fine and altered its business practises as a result. The Information Commissioner’s Office is currently reviewing Mr. McCann’s complaint, and if YouTube is found to have violated data protection laws again, it could face severe penalties.
