YouTube Allegedly Collects Watch Data For Children Under 13 Years Old

JAKARTA - YouTube is accused of collecting history or viewing data for children under the age of 13. The video streaming platform has violated the UK data privacy code designed to protect children.

Staff member in the 5Rights child advocacy group, Duncan McCann filed an Age Appropriate Design Code (AADC) complaint with the UK Information Commission (ICO) Office.

He asked the data watchdog to order Google to stop collecting children's data and fine it 4 percent of annual revenue.

McCann said Alphabet Inc's parent Google site collects data about videos children watch, where they watch, and what devices they use to watch it.

"Imagine YouTube as an adult foreigner following your child online with a virtual clip that records everything they do," McCann said in a statement.

"That's what happens every day and they don't just do it with your child. They do it with up to 5 million other British children as well, resulting in a large amount of personal information collected," he added.

The father of three children asked YouTube to change the design of their platform and delete the data that has been collected from the 13-year-old.

"Tidak peduli itu melanggar hukum, itu adalah experimental sosial besar-besaran, tanpa izin, pada anak-anak kita dengan konsekuensi yang tidak pasti. YouTube harus mengubah desain platform mereka dan menghapus data yang telah dikumpulkan secara tidak dari anak di bawah 13 tahun," ujar McCann.

YouTube has indeed banned children under 13 from using its main website, but McCann's complaint accuses the company of failing to ensure smaller children follow the rules and only use the main platform with parental consent.

YouTube has a special application for children under 13 years apart, YouTube Kids and has tighter data processing. However, data from the telecommunications watchdog Ofcom shows YouTube being used by 89 percent of children between the ages of three and 17.

While only 40 percent of YouTube users aged three to four exclusively use the Kids app, with a much lower proportion for larger children.

In response to this, YouTube has actually taken steps to increase child privacy with more protective default settings.

The company also invests to protect children and families by launching a special application for children while introducing new data practices.

"Over the years, we have made investments to protect children and families, such as launching special children apps, introducing new data practices for children's content and providing a more age-appropriate experience," explained a YouTube spokesperson.

"We remain committed to continuing our engagement with ICO in this priority work, and with other key stakeholders including children, parents, and child protection experts," he added.

Furthermore, ICO said it would consider the complaint carefully, Children's code makes it clear that children are not like online adults, and their data requires meaningful protection," said Deputy Commissioner of ICO, Regulatory Supervision, Stephen Bonner.

For information, AADC has been influential internationally, requiring providers to meet 15 design and privacy standards to protect children, including limiting their location collection and other personal data.

After being implemented in the United Kingdom in 2021, technology platforms including Instagram, TikTok, and Snap have all announced new policies for child users from their apps.

In August 2022, California's legislature also enacted a follow-up law introducing AADC to state laws.

In 2019, YouTube was also fined $170 million by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to settle allegations the company violated federal law by gathering personal information about children.