Google To Pay $30 Million To Settle Lawsuit Over Collecting Children’s Data - 1

Photo by Nils Huenerfuerst on Unsplash

Google To Pay $30 Million To Settle Lawsuit Over Collecting Children’s Data

  • Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

Google has agreed to pay $30 million on Monday to settle a class-action lawsuit accusing the tech giant of violating children’s privacy on YouTube.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

  • Google has agreed to pay $30 million on Monday to settle a class-action lawsuit.
  • Parents and guardians accused Google of violating multiple laws and collecting minors’ data without parental consent.
  • In 2019, Google paid $170 million for a settlement in a similar case.

According to Reuters , the parents and guardians of 34 children alleged that Google violated multiple state laws by collecting minors’ data without parental consent to serve targeted ads.

Although Google agreed to the preliminary settlement, filed Monday in a federal court in California, the company denied any wrongdoing.

The parents claimed Google allowed content providers to collect children’s data by baiting them with attractive content such as nursery rhymes and cartoons, even after the tech giant had previously been accused of similar charges and committed to stop collecting data from videos addressed to children.

In 2019, Google also agreed to settle on an agreement in a similar case and paid $170 million for breaking federal laws and collecting young users’ data without parental consent to track behavior and interests for targeted advertising.

Lawyers estimate that between 35 million and 45 million people may qualify as members of the affected group. Residents of the United States who watched YouTube between July 1, 2013, and April 1, 2020, while under the age of 13, could be eligible to receive a payment of $30 to $60.

The new settlement still requires court approval, and some critics have considered the fines too indulgent. Google reported $62.7 billion in net income during the first half of 2025.

Google has repeatedly faced accusations of targeting children through its YouTube platform. In April, a secret collaboration between Google and Meta was revealed, showing the companies worked together to target Instagram ads at teenagers on YouTube.

A few months ago, the tech giant also introduced an AI tool to estimate users’ ages and detect those under 18 . The purpose of the tool was to help provide more “age-appropriate” experiences for users.

Allianz Life Data Breach Exposes 1.1 Million Customers - 2

Image by Andrea Ferrario, from Unsplash

Allianz Life Data Breach Exposes 1.1 Million Customers

  • Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

A massive cyberattack on Allianz Life has exposed the personal data of 1.1 million customers in the United States, according to breach notification site Have I Been Pwned .

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

  • Hackers accessed Salesforce systems via malicious OAuth apps.
  • Stolen data includes emails, addresses, phone numbers, and tax IDs.
  • ShinyHunters leaked 2.8 million records from Allianz Salesforce databases.

The attack, which took place in mid-July, targeted the company’s Salesforce customer management system.

The U.S. subsidiary of Germany’s Allianz SE, Allianz Life, revealed hackers stole data from the “majority” of its 1.4 million customer base during July.

BleepingComputer notes that the company operates with 2,000 American staff members, providing insurance services to millions of customers worldwide through its parent company, which ranks as one of the world’s largest insurers.

According to BleepingComputer, the stolen information includes “email addresses, names, genders, dates of birth, phone numbers, and physical addresses.” BleepingComputer confirmed with several affected individuals that their leaked data, including tax IDs, was accurate.

Hackers linked to the ShinyHunters extortion group are believed to be behind the breach. They reportedly tricked employees into granting access to a malicious OAuth app connected to Allianz’s Salesforce instance.

Once inside, attackers stole roughly 2.8 million data records, including those of customers, brokers, financial advisors, and wealth management companies. Databases were later leaked online as part of extortion campaigns.

“Allianz Life had previously said that hackers stole personal information of most of its 1.4 million U.S. customers, financial professionals and select employees,” Reuters reported. The company confirmed that “some selected Allianz Life employees” were also impacted.

An Allianz spokesperson said the investigation is ongoing and the company “couldn’t offer any additional comment at this time,” noted BleepingComputer. However, Reuters reports that Allianz has promised “dedicated resources, including two years of identity monitoring services, to assist impacted individuals.”

The breach is part of a wider campaign of Salesforce-targeted attacks that also hit Google, Qantas, Adidas, Dior, Tiffany & Co., Chanel, and HR giant Workday.