Disney's $10M YouTube Label Fail: Frozen Data Meltdown
In a blockbuster no one asked for, Disney agreed in September 2025 to pay $10 million to the FTC for playing an unintentional game of YouTube 'Who's Made For Kids?' Spoiler: They got it wrong and kept personal data warmer than Olaf from classics like 'The Incredibles,' 'Toy Story,' and 'Frozen.' Despite YouTube’s 2019 COPPA crackdown and a friendly 2020 YouTube nudge fixing 300+ mislabeled videos, Disney stubbornly let the default 'Not Made For Kids' label stand at the channel level, allowing unauthorized info-collection from kids under 13, forcing a decade-long 'kids video labeling' babysitting program. Here's your moral: even the mouse can flub the mouse clicks.
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Disney discovered a new way to turn beloved kids’ cartoons into accidental data heists, paying $10M AND needing a decade-long redo. Next up: Pinocchio's nose grows with every mislabeled video.
Disney’s secret plan: confuse YouTube's labels so kids get ads and parents get fines. It’s like making Mickey wear a 'Not For Kids' sign at a kids’ party.
If you thought Disney was just making movies, surprise! They’re also collecting your toddler’s personal info undercover since 2020. Imagine the board meeting on that one.
Source: Theverge | Published: 9/3/2025 | Author: Lauren Feiner
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