Children's Online Privacy Protection Act

The Federal Trade Commission has released its revised final rule implementing the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”), which governs (1) operators of websites and online services that are directed to children under the age of 13 and (2) operators of general audience websites or online services that have actual knowledge that a user is under 13.

The Commission retained the “e-mail plus” consent method and supported a number of new parental consent methods, streamlined the notice requirements, and encouraged the use of automatic filtering tools.  Although the Commission pushed forward with its proposal to define “personal information” to include persistent identifiers, it also broadened the definition of support for internal operations.  Below is a summary of the highlights. 

Continue Reading FTC Adopts Final COPPA Rule: What Businesses Should Know

The Federal Trade Commission released today its second report on mobile apps directed to children.  The report, which follows up on an analysis that staff conducted in February 2012, examined the privacy disclosures of hundreds of kid-directed mobile apps and tested the apps’ practices against these disclosures to determine if the disclosures were accurate …

Continue Reading FTC Releases Second Report on Mobile Apps Directed To Children

Earlier today, the Federal Trade Commission announced a two-week extension for submitting comments on the FTC’s latest proposed revisions to the rule implementing the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”).  In place of the original September 10, 2012, deadline, comments will now be accepted until September 24, 2012.

The FTC…

Continue Reading COPPA Comments Now Due September 24, 2012

Earlier this morning, the FTC proposed additional revisions to the rule implementing the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”).  COPPA governs the online collection, use, and disclosure of children’s personal information by (1) operators of websites and online services that are directed to children under the age of 13 and…
Continue Reading FTC Proposes Additional Revisions to COPPA Rule

The New Jersey Attorney General and Division of Consumer Affairs have announced a settlement with 24x7digital, the developer of the “TeachMe” mobile apps for preschool through second-grade children, to resolve claims that the company violated the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”).   

The state alleged that children were encouraged to submit their…

Continue Reading New Jersey AG Settles COPPA Suit Against Mobile App Developer

The FTC has decided not to pursue an enforcement action against Clearwater Aquarium for alleged violations of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection (“COPPA”) Rule. 

In February 2012, the Children’s Advertising Review Unit (“CARU”) referred the Clearwater Aquarium’s website to the FTC for review under COPPA after the Aquarium reportedly did not…

Continue Reading FTC Refers Children’s Privacy Case Back To CARU

Over the last few weeks, a number of cosponsors have been added to the Do Not Track Kids Act of 2011 (H.R. 1895), bringing the total number of cosponsors to 29.  The bill was introduced by Rep. Markey and Rep. Barton on May 13, 2011.  Earlier this month, the two members also hosted a…

Continue Reading Do Not Track Kids Bill Gains Cosponsors

The FTC staff released a report today calling for participants in the mobile app ecosystem — including app developers, app stores, and third parties who collect data through mobile apps — to provide better privacy notices to parents about mobile apps directed to children, and warning that over the next six months, staff…

Continue Reading FTC Report Calls For More Notice Involving Mobile Apps Directed To Kids, Warns Enforcement Could Come Over Next Six Months

The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade held the latest in its series of hearings on Internet privacy Wednesday morning. The hearing — titled “Protecting Children’s Privacy in an Electronic World” — focused on the Federal Trade Commission’s proposed updates to the regulations implementing the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which generally bars website operators from collecting or disclosing personal information from children under 13 without first obtaining parental consent. Lawmakers and witnesses also discussed whether Congress should enact additional legislation, particularly to protect teenagers. Click the jump to see a summary of some of the key issues addressed at the hearing and in witness’ prepared statements.Continue Reading House Subcommittee Discusses COPPA Updates, Teen Privacy

Politico and other news sources are reporting that the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade plans to hold a hearing on the FTC’s proposed revisions to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act rule.  We previously analyzed the FTC’s proposal here. 

The hearing has not…

Continue Reading House Subcommittee to Examine COPPA Reform