Markey, Public Citizen Pan Possible FTC Settlement With YouTube on COPPA

Critics of some ways tech can target kids found nothing to like in a potential FTC settlement with YouTube. “Once again, this FTC appears to have let a powerful company off the hook with a nominal fine for violating users’ privacy online,” said Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass. He's disappointed the settlement is reportedly on a party-line commissioner basis. In that scenario, Google would pay $150 million-$200 million over allegations YouTube violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (see 1906250061). It would be "a nominal fine," Markey tweeted Friday. Under COPPA, the commission "had authority to impose tens of billions in fines ... for YouTube’s improper corporate surveillance of children, targeted advertising to kids and failure to alert parents," said Public Citizen. The FTC and Google declined to comment.