Press Release
Attorney General Nessel Files Lawsuit Against Roku for Violating Children’s Privacy Laws
LANSING, Mich. – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has announced a lawsuit against Roku, Inc. for purportedly infringing the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the Michigan Consumer Protection Act. The lawsuit suggests that Roku has been collecting and permitting third parties to gather personal information from children without proper notice or parental consent.
According to the Michigan Department of Attorney General, nearly half of American households utilize Roku devices, which include millions of users in Michigan. The crux of the COPPA violation lies in Roku’s lack of a child profile feature, unlike its competitors. This omission results in children being subjected to the same extensive data collection practices as adults. The sensitive data at risk includes children’s locations, voice recordings, IP addresses, and persistent identifiers that could track their online activities.
Moreover, the lawsuit emphasizes that Roku enables third-party channels, including data brokers, to access children’s personal information, thereby enticing content providers and boosting advertising revenues. “Roku has blatantly violated children’s privacy laws, illegally exposing kids across Michigan to invasive data collection practices,” noted Nessel. “We cannot allow companies to jeopardize the security of our children’s personal information.”
The Attorney General’s office is seeking to halt Roku’s alleged unlawful data collection and disclosure practices while demanding compliance with both federal and state laws. Additionally, Nessel aims to recover damages, restitution, and civil penalties due to Roku’s years of alleged misconduct. Nessel remains committed to protecting the rights of Michigan families and ensuring children’s safety and privacy in an increasingly digital age.
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