Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has filed a federal lawsuit against Roku, Inc., accusing the streaming giant of illegally collecting and sharing children’s personal data in violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the Michigan Consumer Protection Act.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, alleges that Roku collects and allows third parties to collect sensitive information from children—including voice recordings, IP addresses, browsing histories, and precise locations—without the proper notice or parental consent required by federal law.
“Roku has blatantly violated children’s privacy laws, illegally exposing kids across Michigan to invasive data collection practices,” said Attorney General Nessel. “We cannot allow companies to jeopardize the security of our children’s personal information.”
Nearly half of U.S. households—including millions in Michigan—use Roku’s streaming platform. Despite its widespread use, the complaint claims Roku does not allow parents to set up child-specific user profiles, unlike other major streaming services. As a result, children are exposed to the same data tracking and advertising techniques as adults.
Nessel’s office argues that Roku enhances its advertising revenue by allowing third-party channels to harvest children’s data, some of which is allegedly shared with data brokers and tracking firms already under scrutiny by the Federal Trade Commission.
The lawsuit further accuses Roku of misleading parents about their children’s privacy rights and failing to comply with COPPA’s strict rules on voice data collection.
The state is seeking an injunction to stop Roku’s alleged misconduct, enforce compliance with privacy laws, and secure financial penalties, damages, and restitution for affected Michigan families.
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