Disney to Pay $10 Million Over Alleged Child Online Privacy Violations

Walt Disney Company has agreed to pay $10 million to settle allegations of violating child online privacy laws. The company, which operates a media and entertainment group, was accused of collecting personal information from children without parental consent. The settlement covers the company's entertainment and audiovisual production, operation of theme parks and hotel resorts, and production and distribution of TV and video streaming programs focusing on sports.

Walt Disney Company has agreed to pay $10 million to settle allegations of violating child online privacy laws. The settlement, disclosed on September 2, 2025, follows an inquiry by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) into the company's practices regarding the collection of personal data from children.

The FTC alleged that Disney failed to properly categorize videos it uploaded to YouTube as children's content, allowing these videos to be targeted with online advertising. This lapse drew the attention of federal regulators, who deemed it a violation of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) [1].

According to the settlement, Disney will pay $10 million to the FTC. The company has stated that the violations did not occur on Disney-owned platforms but acknowledged the need to improve its compliance with children's privacy laws. A Disney spokesperson emphasized the company's commitment to investing in tools to enhance compliance and maintain its leadership in the space [2].

This settlement is part of Disney's ongoing efforts to address data privacy issues. The company's operations, which include entertainment and audiovisual production, theme parks, hotel resorts, and TV and video streaming programs, are all subject to scrutiny. The FTC's action underscores the importance of stringent data protection measures, particularly when dealing with children's personal information [3].

References:
[1] https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/disney-pay-10-million-violating-182935222.html
[2] https://news.bloomberglaw.com/privacy-and-data-security/disney-pays-10-million-in-ftc-childrens-privacy-settlement
[3] https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/disney-pay-10-million-settle-us-claim-allowing-unlawful-collection-childrens-2025-09-02/