Disney to pay $10 million for alleged violations of US children’s privacy laws | Confidentiality

The settlement comes after the US Federal Trade Commission accused the entertainment giant of illegally collecting data on children.

Disney has agreed to pay $10 million to settle allegations that it violated children’s privacy laws in the United States, authorities said.

A federal court has approved the settlement aimed at resolving allegations brought by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, the Justice Department announced Tuesday.

The order also requires Disney to operate its YouTube channel in accordance with data protection rules and establish a program to ensure future compliance.

Disney had agreed to settle claims filed by the U.S. antitrust watchdog in September.

The civil case stems from allegations that Disney collected personal data from children without parental consent through its YouTube videos.

Antitrust authorities alleged that Disney wrongly designated more than 300 YouTube videos, including content from The Incredibles, Toy Story, Frozen and Mickey Mouse, as not being intended for children.

YouTube requires content creators to designate videos as “Made for Kids” or “Not Made for Kids” to comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule.

Under the rule, U.S. companies are prohibited from collecting data from children under 13 without parental notification.

Other large companies that have paid settlements under the rule, which has been amended several times since it was enacted in 2000, include Google and Microsoft.

Disney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“The Department of Justice is working hard to ensure that parents have a say in how information about their children is collected and used,” Assistant Attorney General Brett A Shumate said in a statement.

“The ministry will take prompt action to eliminate any unlawful violations of parents’ rights to protect the privacy of their children.”

Disney, headquartered in Burbank, California, is one of the world’s largest entertainment companies, with fiscal 2025 revenue reaching $94.4 billion.