For Immediate Release:
August 25, 2021
Contact: Matt Baca – (505) 270-7148
Santa Fe, NM – Today Attorney General Hector Balderas announced a federal lawsuit against
Rovio Entertainment, the developer of the massively popular “Angry Birds” mobile gaming
franchise. The suit, brought under the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (or
“COPPA”) as well as state law, alleges that Rovio knowingly collects personal information from
children under the age of 13 that play the Angry Birds games. Rovio then sends that information
off to a constellation of third party marketing companies that analyze, repackage, resell and
otherwise use the information to sell targeted advertising to those children.
“Parents must have the power to protect their children and determine who can have access to
their child’s personal data, and New Mexican parents are being misled about what information is
being collected from their children,” said Balderas. “This company must follow the law, and we
will always hold companies accountable that risk the safety of children.”
COPPA requires that developers of child-directed games obtain parental consent before
collecting any personal information from players (information like device name, online activity
history, and more). If a developer creates a game targeted at a broad audience, the developer
still must take steps to ensure that it does not collect information from users under the age of 13.
The State’s complaint alleges that Rovio has deliberately attempted to turn a blind eye to its
enormous child audience, while simultaneously marketing the Angry Birds games to kids through
movies, lunch boxes, kids meals, and more. The suit seeks an injunction prohibiting the
company’s data collection practices, civil penalties, restitution, and other relief.
A copy of the complaint is attached.
