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Google and YouTube are preparing to pay $30 million to settle a class action lawsuit accusing them of violating children’s privacy laws.
The suit claims the companies collected personal data from kids under 13 without parental consent while they watched child-directed content on YouTube.
Class representatives’ guardians may receive service awards of up to $1,500 each for their part in the case.
The settlement covers U.S. individuals who were under 13 and viewed such videos between July 1, 2013, and April 1, 2020.
Google denies wrongdoing and says it settled to avoid further litigation.
Payments to class members will be pro-rata, depending on the number of valid claims filed, after deductions for attorney fees, costs, and administration.
No proof of viewing is required, and the exact payout amounts will depend on how many claims are submitted.
Claims must be filed by January 21, 2026, online or by mail.
The final approval hearing is set for January 13, 2026, in federal court.
This nationwide settlement stems from a 2019 lawsuit in California centered on concerns over tech giants’ handling of children’s data under laws like COPPA.
