The privacy offered by Google through its services and products is always in question, so it should not be surprising that a complaint has been filed in the United Kingdom. formal complaint for the alleged data collection of children through the version of Youtube adapted to children’s audience.
YouTube Kids has been operating for eight years as a version of the service aimed at children and with parental controls so that children do not access inappropriate content for them. Like the standard version of the platform, it has advertising, but this, according to the company, is subject to a stricter review process and does not contain product purchase flows or clicks to external websites.
However, despite initially being a good idea, YouTube Kids has not been without controversy throughout its history, especially when it was accused of serving conspiracy videos. The company reacted by first removing content from the adapted version of the platform and then launching a whitelist-based, non-algorithmic service version of YouTube Kids to more effectively prevent inappropriate content.
Now YouTube, or rather its parent, Alphabet, will have to face process after a formal complaint filed through the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) by the charitable group 5Rights and an individual, accusing Google (the name by which Alphabet is still known) of illegally collecting data from children. The plaintiff states, according to its version, that the video platform has collected the viewing habits, locations and preferences of up to 5 million children in the UK in violation of the UK Children’s Code.
Although no formal investigation has been opened so far, Stephen Bonner, ICO Deputy Commissioner, has indicated that he will consider the complaint against YouTube and that appropriate action will be taken if it is found that the company has violated privacy legislation. Data Protection. For its part, YouTube has stressed its commitment to children’s privacy through the aforementioned measures.
We will see how this case develops and if it ends up in court. As we have already said on many occasions, Google services are good and safe, but the privacy they offer is always in question.
