Individuals or their children who were under the age of 13 and watched children’s content on YouTube in the United States between July 1, 2013, and April 1, 2020, may be eligible to receive a cash payment from a $30 million class action settlement.
Google LLC and YouTube LLC agreed to pay $30 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging that they unlawfully collected personal data from children under 13 without parental consent while those children watched child-directed content on YouTube.
Who Is Eligible
To qualify for the settlement, class members must meet all of the following criteria:
- Lived in the United States at any time between July 1, 2013, and April 1, 2020.
- Were under 13 years old during that period (or are the parent/guardian of a child who was).
- Watched or had their child watch content on YouTube that was allegedly directed toward children.
If the individual eligible for the settlement is under 18 when the claim is filed, a parent or legal guardian must complete and sign the claim form. Each eligible child is considered a separate class member.
Settlement Payment Details
The total settlement fund is $30 million. After deducting settlement administration costs, attorneys’ fees, expenses, service awards, and applicable taxes, the remaining funds will be divided equally among all valid claimants on a pro rata basis.
How to Submit a Claim
Class members may file a claim online or by mailing a completed claim form to the settlement administrator. Each claim must be submitted by January 21, 2026.
Mailing address:
YouTube Privacy Settlement
c/o A.B. Data Ltd.
P.O. Box 173131
Milwaukee, WI 53217
A separate claim form must be submitted for each eligible child.
Information Required
Claimants must provide the full name of the eligible child and the parent or guardian, along with the child’s date of birth.
Payment Options
Eligible claimants can choose to receive their settlement payment through either:
Settlement Fund Breakdown
The $30,000,000 settlement fund will be allocated as follows:
- Settlement administration costs: Up to $1,000,000
- Attorneys’ fees: Up to $9,000,000
- Attorneys’ expenses: Up to $250,000
- Service awards to class representatives’ guardians: Up to $1,500 each
- Payments to eligible class members: Remaining balance
Key Dates
- Deadline to exclude yourself: December 8, 2025
- Fairness hearing: January 13, 2026
- Claim submission deadline: January 21, 2026
Payment Timeline
Payments will be distributed after the court grants final approval and any appeals have been resolved.
Background of the Case
The lawsuit alleged that Google and YouTube collected personal data from children under 13 while they watched child-directed videos on YouTube without obtaining parental consent. The plaintiffs claimed this violated federal and state privacy laws and that the companies used the data for advertising purposes.
Google denies any wrongdoing but agreed to the settlement to avoid the uncertainty and expense of continued litigation.
Summary
- Settlement amount: $30,000,000
- Estimated payment: Pro rata share of remaining funds
- Claim deadline: January 21, 2026
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