Google tracks just about everyone and everything these days, especially if you have and use a Google account. This is something that we all know, and it’s how Google is able to offer so many services for free, or at a low price. When you browse online, Google uses cookies to track what you’re doing. This is usually to either improve your experience, or send you targeted ads, that you are more likely to click on. Naturally, parents are a bit weary of Google tracking what their kids are doing – as they should be of anyone tracking their kids – especially when they are playing video games and watching videos on a site like Nickelodeon, or Nick.com which is made for kids to hangout on and have fun.
The 3rd US Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia voted 3-0 to dismiss the appeal in this class action lawsuit brought up by parents, against Google and Viacom. This decision upheld a January 2015 ruling, by US District Judge Stanley Chesler. While Google defeated the appeal, Viacom did get a privacy claim against it. This claim is in regards to Nick.com, where Viacom had promised not to track visitors, but continued to track them. Since Chesler made the ruling in the first place, the surviving claim against Viacom is handed back to him.
Viacom said in a statement that they are pleased with the dismissals in this case. Adding that they are confident it will “prevail on the remaining claim”. As of now, Google hasn’t yet commented on the dismissal of the appeal for this class action lawsuit, but they likely are pleased with the dismissal of this appeal as well.
What this means for kids that may visit Nickelodeon’s website – and their parents – is that they are still being tracked. So there is nothing that is going to change here. Remember that Google uses this information that they collect to better their products, and deliver targeted ads. So while it can be a bit creepy, especially when tracking kids under the age of 13, the search giant isn’t collecting anything that will put kids lives in danger.