Roku is facing a major lawsuit from Florida over claims the streaming company secretly collected and sold children’s data to advertisers and data brokers for years without getting permission from parents.
What Data Was Collected
The complaint claims Roku collected viewing habits, voice recordings from their voice remotes, and precise geolocation data from children while they used the platform. This information was then sold to third parties for profit.
Roku reaches 145 million people across nearly half of all US households. The company earns most of its revenue through advertising sales on its platform. And Roku’s unethical success from advertising revenue shows everything wrong with streaming.
And we have NEVER recommend Roku devices to our audience and never will.
Not only because of Roku’s closed operating system but devices running Android TV/Google TV allow third-party apps, custom interfaces, and the ability to access content beyond official streaming services.
Ignoring Child Users
The lawsuit (PDF) states Roku knew children were using its platform but chose not to verify user ages or obtain parental permission. Clear indicators included downloads of the Kids Screensaver, Kids Theme Pack, and children’s apps from the Kids & Family section.
Florida’s complaint notes Roku continued collecting and selling data even when users viewed content from Kids and Family on The Roku Channel or watched shows in age-banded categories like “Ages 1-3” and “Ages 4-6.”
Legal Violations
The case was filed under Florida’s Digital Bill of Rights, which took effect July 1, 2024. This law requires companies to get parental consent before processing or selling children’s sensitive data.
Hide Your Digital Fingerprint
Violations carry penalties up to $50,000 each, with that amount jumping to $150,000 when a known child is involved.
Attorney General James Uthmeier discussed this lawsuit in more detail in a social media post.
Roku’s Data Broker Partnership
Another major concern involves Roku’s partnership with Kochava, a data broker with its own history of privacy violations. The FTC sued Kochava in 2022 for selling highly sensitive consumer data, yet the company continues operating.
Through this partnership, Roku allegedly enabled advertisers to learn identifying information about users, including ethnicity, gender, date of birth, and parental status. Kochava then linked this data with other sources to build detailed profiles of individuals.
Final Thoughts
This lawsuit highlights serious privacy concerns for families using streaming devices.
Roku’s alleged practices show how tech companies can exploit user data for profit while ignoring protections meant to safeguard children online.
For more details on this story, refer to the official lawsuit document (PDF) and the press release from Attorney General James Uthmeier.
We want to know your thoughts. What do you think about this story? Let us know in the comment section below!
Be sure to stay up-to-date with the latest streaming news, reviews, tips, and more by following the TROYPOINT Advisor with updates weekly.
Exclusive Surfshark Discount
Your online activity is currently monitored by your ISP, app/addon/IPTV developers, government agencies, and the websites you visit.
- Become 100% anonymous while streaming and downloading.
- Use on Unlimited Devices & share 1 account with the entire family.
- Save 85% with the 24-Month Plan + Get 3 FREE Months.
This page includes affiliate links where TROYPOINT may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Many times, visitors will receive a discount due to the special arrangements made for our fans. Learn more on my Affiliate Disclaimer page.
