Overview

• The FTC, via a DOJ complaint, said Disney violated COPPA by failing to mark certain YouTube uploads as "Made for Kids," enabling collection of personal data from viewers under 13 and targeted advertising.
• YouTube notified Disney in June 2020 that roughly 300 videos were misdesignated, including content tied to The Incredibles, Coco, Toy Story, Tangled and Frozen, with many uploads from the 2020–2022 period.
• The complaint cites at least 12 ad campaigns since 2020 totaling more than 350,000 impressions on channels that should have barred targeted ads, and notes exposure to features such as autoplay not allowed on kids’ videos.
• Under the order, Disney must maintain an Audience Designation program to review and correctly classify videos posted to YouTube as child‑directed when appropriate.
• The action is seen as a potential precedent for other major content providers after YouTube’s 2019 COPPA case, and the order allows Disney to phase out its program if YouTube deploys effective age‑assurance tools.