A federal judge in San Jose has approved a $30 million class-action settlement with Google following a six-year lawsuit over children’s privacy on YouTube. U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen granted final approval Tuesday, allowing families whose children watched allegedly kid-directed videos between July 1, 2013, and April 1, 2020 to seek compensation. Attorneys estimate about 1 million valid claims, with individual payments likely landing between $20 and $30 after fees and expenses.
The lawsuit, originally filed in 2019, accused Google of collecting personal data from children under 13 including IP addresses, device serial numbers, and geolocation data without parental consent to improve targeted advertising. Parents also argued that kid-focused content like cartoons and nursery rhymes helped attract young viewers. While companies such as DreamWorks Animation, Cartoon Network, and Hasbro were initially named, the court ruled they weren’t responsible because they didn’t collect the data themselves.
Of the settlement fund, $9 million (30%) was approved for attorney fees after about 9,000 hours of legal work, and $1,500 payments were awarded to each of the case’s guardian representatives. Judge van Keulen noted concerns about potential fraudulent claims but said safeguards are in place as the claims window closes, marking a notable moment in the broader debate over children’s privacy and data collection online.
This blog is intended to provide information to the general public and to practitioners about developments that may impact Oregon class actions.
