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Disney pays $10 million to settle child privacy law violations.
In a move that underscores the escalating regulatory crackdown on Big Tech's data practices, The Walt Disney Company has agreed to pay a $10 million civil penalty to settle allegations it violated child privacy laws, the Justice Department announced Tuesday. This isn't just another corporate fine lost in the daily news cycle; it's a significant marker in the ongoing, and often painful, struggle to protect our youngest digital citizens in a landscape where their personal information is a coveted currency.The settlement, which finalizes a referral from the Federal Trade Commission last September, specifically targets Disney's operations on YouTube, alleging that subsidiaries Disney Worldwide Services Inc and Disney Entertainment Operations LLC ran afoul of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). This 1998 law, a foundational piece of digital privacy legislation, mandates that online services directed at children under 13 must notify parents and obtain verifiable consent before collecting personal data—a rule Disney is now formally barred from violating on the platform under a new federal court order.For parents who have watched their kids captivated by Disney's vast universe of characters and stories on YouTube, this news hits with a mix of validation and concern. It confirms lurking suspicions about the opaque data machinery behind seemingly innocent cartoons and sing-alongs, while also raising urgent questions about who else is playing fast and loose with our children's digital footprints.Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate framed the action as a core commitment, stating, “The Justice Department is firmly devoted to ensuring parents have a say in how their children’s information is collected and used. ” Yet, this settlement arrives against a backdrop of repeated, high-profile COPPA enforcements—from Google and YouTube's record $170 million penalty in 2019 to cases against TikTok and other gaming apps—painting a picture of an industry where compliance is often an afterthought until regulators come knocking.The required corrective action, compelling Disney to institute a robust compliance program for its YouTube activities, is a standard remedy, but its effectiveness hinges on rigorous oversight. The silence from Disney, which could not be immediately reached for comment, is telling; for a corporation built on family trust, this episode represents a tangible reputational fracture.The broader implications are profound, signaling to every media conglomerate and content creator leveraging YouTube's algorithmic reach that child-directed content is now a major enforcement flashpoint. As live updates from courtrooms and regulatory agencies become a grim routine, this case serves as a stark reminder: in the digital playground, the rules are finally being enforced, but the game of catch-up with ever-evolving technology continues, leaving families to navigate a minefield of consent forms and privacy policies just to let their kids watch a video.
#Disney
#child privacy
#COPPA
#settlement
#YouTube
#FTC
#lead focus news
