Story perspectives

Disney Settles $10M Over Child Privacy Violations

1/2/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Walt Disney Company has agreed to pay $10 million to settle allegations of violating child privacy laws, as announced by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
A federal court approved the settlement, which addresses claims that Disney Worldwide Services and Disney Entertainment Operations misclassified YouTube videos as “Made for Kids.”
This misclassification led to the collection of personal data from children under 13 for targeted advertising without parental consent, violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
The DOJ's order requires Disney to implement compliance measures and prohibits future violations on YouTube.

History

Historical Context

The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) was enacted in 1998 to safeguard children's personal information online, responding to rising concerns about data collection practices. Effective from April 21, 2000, it mandates parental consent for data collection from children under 13. Despite enforcement actions, including a $5.7 billion fine against Google in 2020, challenges persist in ensuring compliance across digital platforms, highlighting the need for updated regulations.

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Story summary

The Walt Disney Company has agreed to pay $10 million to settle allegations of violating child privacy laws, as announced by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
A federal court approved the settlement, which addresses claims that Disney Worldwide Services and Disney Entertainment Operations misclassified YouTube videos as “Made for Kids.”
This misclassification led to the collection of personal data from children under 13 for targeted advertising without parental consent, violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
The DOJ's order requires Disney to implement compliance measures and prohibits future violations on YouTube.

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