Google will pay $30 million as compensation for violation of children's privacy, agrees to settle case in US

Google will pay $30 million as compensation to settle the lawsuit, which alleges that it violated the privacy of children using YouTube. The case was filed by the parents of 34 children, claiming that their personal information was collected without parental consent and used for targeted advertising. Google has agreed to pay the settlement, but the case needs approval from US Magistrate Judge Susan Van Cullen in the federal court of San Jose, California. So far, Google has not responded to this matter. 

In 2019, Google's parent company Alphabet agreed to pay a $170 million fine and revise some policies to resolve similar allegations from the US Federal Trade Commission and New York Attorney General Letitia James. However, some critics believe this punishment was too lenient for Google. 

Now, the parents of 34 children have filed another lawsuit against Google, accusing the company of allowing content providers to collect personal information even after the 2019 settlement. They allege that content such as cartoons, nursery rhymes, and other videos contributed to privacy violations and breaches of multiple laws.

The proposed class action includes American children under 13 who watched YouTube between July 1, 2013, and April 1, 2020. Plaintiffs' attorneys estimate that between 35 and 45 million children could be involved. If only 1% to 2% of these children file claims, individual payouts could range from $30 to $60 after expenses and fees.

Lawyers have indicated they will take up to $9 million from this settlement as legal fees. Meanwhile, Alphabet reported revenue of $186.7 billion and a net profit of $62.7 billion in the first half of 2025.