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鈥檚 Digital Bill of Rights will cost it $25 million, Uthmeier鈥檚 office said. However, the agreement, Uthmeier said, does not include any finding of wrongdoing or a fine.
鈥淥ur 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,鈥� Uthmeier in a video posted to social media.
READ MORE: TikTok is not complying with social media law restricting minors, state says
Uthmeier鈥檚 Office of Parental Rights filed suit in the Collier County Circuit Court in October. The AG that office just over a year ago in the interest of 鈥減utting our money where our mouth is.鈥�
鈥淲e believe that Roku has taken, used, shared, and sold the personal, sensitive data of our consumers, namely, our kids, and that they鈥檝e done so in violation of the Florida Digital Bill of Rights and the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act,鈥� Uthmeier said in a video posted to his at the time of the filing.
The company wasn鈥檛 protecting parental consent rights or effectively disclosing privacy controls and opt-out tools, the attorney general said at the time.
Roku forms partnerships with third-party data brokers 鈥渋n an effort to avoid complying with Florida law,鈥� Uthmeier contended last year.
The complaint alleged Roku does not perform age verification and thus does not comply with the , passed in 2023. The Digital Bill of Rights was designed to protect children and others from big tech, the at the time.
Uthmeier says engineering the implementation is 鈥渆xpected to begin immediately, with full deployment nationwide anticipated within twelve months.
鈥淲e appreciate the constructive engagement with Attorney General Uthmeier and are focused on implementing these enhancements promptly and effectively,鈥� Roku said in a . 鈥淧rotecting children鈥檚 privacy and empowering parents with choice over their family鈥檚 streaming experience are priorities for Roku. We are proud of the protections we have built and are pleased to continue strengthening them with today鈥檚 announcement.鈥�
is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Michael Moline for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com.
