The lawsuit claims YouTube violated laws by collecting personal information from children who watched cartoons, nursery rhymes and other child-directed videos.
Google and YouTube have agreed to pay $30 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging the companies illegally collected personal data from children under 13 without parental consent, according to court documents.
The settlement, which received preliminary approval Sept. 23, 2025, covers individuals in the United States who were under 13 years old between July 1, 2013, and April 1, 2020, and watched content made for children on YouTube during that time.
The lawsuit claims Google and YouTube violated privacy laws by collecting personal information from children who watched cartoons, nursery rhymes and other child-directed videos on YouTube. Plaintiffs allege the companies used this data for advertising purposes without obtaining parental consent, as required by the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.
Google and YouTube have denied any wrongdoing but agreed to the settlement to avoid continued litigation costs.
Who qualifies
Class members include anyone in the United States who:
- Was under 13 years old at any time from July 1, 2013, to April 1, 2020
- Watched content directed at children on YouTube during that period
- Lived in the United States during that time
How to file a claim
Eligible class members can file claims online at YouTubePrivacySettlement.com or by mail to: YouTube Privacy Settlement, c/o A.B. Data Ltd., P.O. Box 173131, Milwaukee, WI 53217.
Claims must be submitted by Jan. 21, 2026. Online submissions are due by 11:59 p.m. PST; mailed claims must be postmarked by that date.
Parents or legal guardians must complete claim forms for minors. One claim form should be submitted per eligible child.
No proof of purchase or video viewing history is required. Claimants must attest under penalty of perjury that the child watched child-directed content on YouTube during the qualifying period.
Payment details
Each eligible claimant will receive an equal share of the remaining settlement fund after administrative costs and legal fees.
Individual payment amounts are currently unknown and will depend on the number of valid claims filed. Based on typical class action participation rates, payments could range from $10 to $60 per claimant.
Payments will be distributed only after the court grants final approval and any appeals are resolved, a process that typically takes several months to two years.
Important dates
- Dec. 8, 2025: Deadline to opt out or file objections
- Jan. 13, 2026: Final approval hearing
- Jan. 21, 2026: Claims deadline