Florida
Roku Agrees to Compliance Settlement Affecting Florida Families
Attorney General James Uthmeier says Roku will come into compliance with state law under a settlement of a legal complaint he filed last year. Engineering to bring the company into compliance with Florida’s Digital Bill of Rights will cost it…
Key points
- Roku is settling a complaint with Florida’s Attorney General regarding children’s data privacy.
- The company will invest $25 million to comply with the state’s Digital Bill of Rights.
- This settlement aims to enhance protections for children’s personal data and empower parental control.
PENSACOLA, Fla. NewsWK — Pensacola residents and families in the surrounding areas of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties may be interested to know that Roku has reached a settlement with Florida’s Attorney General James Uthmeier. This agreement requires the company to comply with Florida’s Digital Bill of Rights, following a legal complaint filed last year.
According to Uthmeier’s office, bringing Roku into compliance will involve an investment of $25 million. However, this settlement does not imply any admission of wrongdoing by Roku, nor does it include any fines. Uthmeier emphasized the importance of this resolution, stating, “Our resolution ensures that meaningful safeguards will be implemented to protect the privacy and personal data for our children. Parents have a right to control the upbringing of their kids.”
The Attorney General’s complaint, filed in the Collier County Circuit Court, alleged that Roku had previously sold sensitive data of children, violating Florida’s Digital Bill of Rights and the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. Uthmeier indicated that Roku was not adequately protecting parental consent rights or effectively disclosing privacy controls and opt-out tools.
This settlement comes at a time when many parents in our community are concerned about the digital safety of their children. The Digital Bill of Rights, passed in 2023, aims to safeguard children from potential exploitation by big tech companies. As part of the compliance efforts, Roku has committed to begin implementing necessary changes immediately, with a nationwide rollout expected within the next twelve months.
In a statement, Roku expressed appreciation for working with Uthmeier’s office, stating, “Protecting children’s privacy and empowering parents with choice over their family’s streaming experience are priorities for Roku. We are proud of the protections we have built and are pleased to continue strengthening them with today’s announcement.”
This article was produced with the assistance of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
Based on reporting originally published by Florida Phoenix. Read the original story.
