Google will pay $8.25m to settle child data-tracking allegations

Google has agreed to pay 8.25 million dollars to settle class-action allegations that it collected children’s data through apps designated under its Designed for Families programme and used it for targeted advertising via AdMob. The settlement, announced in January 2026, addresses claims that some apps self-certified COPPA compliance while embedding Google-owned AdMob software that gathered data such as IP addresses, device identifiers, usage data and location to within five metres.

According to the class action lawsuit, this exfiltration of data occurred without parental consent, enabling targeted advertising to millions of children under thirteen. The case notes that security researchers alerted Google to the issue in 2018, and parallels a separate YouTube settlement over COPPA-era privacy violations.

This latest action comes as COPPA rules continue to evolve, with amendments expanding the scope of personal information and requiring clearer parental consent for targeted advertising of children.