What will change on YouTube after the fine of $ 1 million paid by Google for violation of children's privacy?

Youtube will stop showing personalized ads on children's content, among other measures that Google will apply on this video platform, after confirmation of a fine millionaire for Illegally collect information on babies.

As we had planned in TN Tecno, Alphabet Inc. (Google), owner of YouTube since 2006, agreed with the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) to pay a hefty fine. Now it has been confirmed that the amount rises to $ 170 million.

It should be noted that this is a record fine for violation of the COPPA law, although it is minimal compared to the $ 5 billion that Facebook had to pay for a fine imposed by the FTC for violation of the privacy of the users.

The sanction of the technology giant responds to the illegal practices of this company and constitutes a violation of the law COPPA (law on the protection of the on-line privacy), which was sanctioned in the United States in 1998 and prohibits the collection of Information from children under 13 years old. years

In that case, YouTube tracked children's activity in children's channels based on this information to serve ads. According to the plaintiffs, including the Attorney General's Office in New York, Google has raised millions of dollars from this practice, which "generates revenue for both channel and platform owners", as the FTC explains.

"Google and YouTube, knowingly and illegally, have monitored, tracked and posted children's ads solely to maintain their advertising dollars," said New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Complaints, fines and amendments

The sanction is not exhausted by the pecuniary sanction. The American society apply changes to the video platform, responding to the request made a few weeks ago by a senator from the Democratic Party: to propose a non-commercial YouTube experience for underage users.

In this regard, Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube, said that limit the collection and use of data in videos made for children "to the minimum necessary".

What will happen in practice? Content for boys will no longer have personalized ads; They will also delete comments and notifications on them.

"In four months we will start processing data from anyone who sees child content on YouTube as it's a minor, regardless of the actual age of l & # 39; user. This means that we will limit the collection and use of data in videos made for children to the minimum necessary to ensure the operation of the platform, "Wojcicki said.