Children’s advocates ask US authorities to investigate Google for targeting ads to kids

In a letter on Aug 23, 2023, children’s advocacy groups including Fairplay and Common Sense Media asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Google, saying the tech giant serves personalized ads to kids on YouTube despite federal law prohibiting the practice. — AP

Children’s advocacy groups including Fairplay and Common Sense Media are asking the US Federal Trade Commission to investigate Google, saying the tech giant serves personalised ads to kids on YouTube despite federal law prohibiting the practice.

The letter follows a report from The New York Times last week that found that ads on YouTube may have led to the online tracking of children. The federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA, requires kid-oriented websites to get parents’ consent before collecting personal information of children under 13.