The settlement comes after the U.S. Federal Trade Commission accused the entertainment giant of illegally collecting children’s data.
Published December 31, 2025
Disney has agreed to pay $10 million to resolve allegations of violating U.S. child privacy laws, authorities said.
The Department of Justice announced Tuesday that a federal court has approved a settlement to resolve claims brought by the Federal Trade Commission.
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The order also requires Disney to operate its YouTube channel in compliance with data protection regulations and establish a program to ensure future compliance.
Disney agreed in September to settle a lawsuit brought by the US antitrust watchdog.
The civil suit stems from allegations that Disney collected children’s personal data through videos on YouTube without their parents’ consent.
Antitrust authorities alleged that Disney incorrectly designated more than 300 YouTube videos as not suitable for children, including content from The Incredibles, Toy Story, Frozen and Mickey Mouse.
YouTube requires content creators to designate their videos as “made for children” or “not made for children” to comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Regulation.
Under the rule, U.S. companies are prohibited from collecting data from children under 13 without parental notification.
Other major companies that have paid settlements under the rules, which have been revised several times since their enactment in 2000, include Google and Microsoft.
Disney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“The Department of Justice is steadfastly committed to ensuring that parents have a say in how their children’s information is collected and used,” Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate said in a statement.
“The ministry will take swift action to eradicate this unlawful violation of parents’ right to protect their children’s privacy.”
Disney, headquartered in Burbank, California, is one of the world’s largest entertainment companies, with fiscal 2025 sales of $94.4 billion.
