AI Marketing Strategies | NYC

Register by Jan 13 to save on passes and connect with marketers from Uber, Bose and more

SECURE SEAT

How children’s privacy laws complicate connected TV tracking practices

watching tv

The connected TV ad industry continues to rely on the IP address for tracking viewers and connecting CTV audiences with other devices in the household. However, this type of household-level tracking appears to fall into a legal gray area when it comes to children’s privacy law.

Laws such as the California Consumer Privacy Act consider the IP address to be personal information, so collecting an IP address for a household that is known to be home to a child — and which can in turn be associated with that child — runs the risk of running afoul of privacy regulations. And with more children’s privacy regulations on the way — including a notice by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission of potential changes to the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act — the chances of children’s privacy laws conflicting with CTV tracking practices appear will likely rise.

In the video below, Digiday spoke with experts in privacy law, ad tech, children’s media and CTV to understand why complying with children’s privacy law on CTV can be so complicated.

More in Future of TV

Future of TV Briefing: 5 ripple effects that will shape the future of TV in 2026

This week’s Future of TV Briefing looks at the trends and developments that will shape the TV, streaming and digital video industry in 2026.

‘A year of loose ends’: Digiday editors share top takeaways from 2025

This year was filled with major developments – from Netflix’s planned WBD deal to Omnicom’s acquisition of IPG to Google’s ultimately cookie reversal – and Digiday editors Sara Jerde and Seb Joseph help to recap the year that was (and wasn’t).

Future of TV Briefing: How the future of TV shaped up in 2025

This week’s Future of TV Briefing looks back at the top topics and trends that overtook the TV, streaming and digital video industries in 2025.