Michigan Sues Roku Over Alleged Child Data Violations

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has filed a federal lawsuit against Roku, alleging the company illegally collects and shares children's personal data—including locations, voice recordings, browsing history, and IP addresses—without parental consent, violating COPPA and the Michigan Consumer Protection Act. The suit claims Roku lacks child-specific profiles or robust parental controls, subjecting all users to identical data collection practices. Nessel asserts Roku enables third-party channels to gather children’s information for ad revenue and has partnered with web trackers and data brokers, some of whom have been scrutinized by the FTC. Roku denies the allegations, stating it complies with privacy laws and does not use or disclose children's data for targeted advertising or prohibited purposes. The attorney general is seeking to require Roku's compliance with privacy laws, as well as damages, restitution, and civil penalties. The case reflects increasing concern over children's online privacy amid the growth of streaming platforms.