Children's Online Privacy Protection Act

Definition

The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) is a U.S. federal law enacted in 1998 aimed at protecting the privacy of children under the age of 13 online. It requires websites and online services directed towards children to obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting, using, or disclosing personal information from children. This law addresses critical issues surrounding privacy, data security, and ethical challenges by ensuring that children's personal data is handled responsibly and that parents have control over what information is shared.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. COPPA was signed into law in 1998 and went into effect on April 21, 2000, marking a significant step in protecting children's online privacy.
2. Under COPPA, websites must have a clear privacy policy detailing how they collect and use personal information from children.
3. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is responsible for enforcing COPPA and has the authority to take action against companies that violate its provisions.
4. COPPA applies not only to websites directly aimed at children but also to general audience sites that knowingly collect personal information from kids.
5. Violations of COPPA can result in hefty fines for companies, underscoring the importance of compliance for businesses operating online.

Review Questions

• How does the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act address the issue of parental control over children's online data?
  • The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) empowers parents by requiring that websites and online services obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting any personal information from children under 13. This means parents have the authority to decide what information is shared and how it is used, reinforcing their role in protecting their children's privacy online. By doing so, COPPA aims to ensure that children's personal data is not exploited without parental knowledge or approval.
• Discuss the impact of COPPA on websites targeting children and the ethical considerations involved in collecting personal data from minors.
  • COPPA has a significant impact on how websites targeting children operate by imposing strict requirements for data collection and parental consent. Ethically, it raises concerns about the potential exploitation of vulnerable populations like children, who may not fully understand the implications of sharing personal information online. The act emphasizes the responsibility of companies to create safe digital environments for kids while balancing their business interests with the need for ethical practices in handling children's data.
• Evaluate how effective COPPA has been in adapting to the evolving digital landscape and protecting children's privacy in modern online environments.
  • While COPPA was groundbreaking when enacted, its effectiveness in the current digital landscape is mixed due to rapid technological advancements and changes in how children interact with online content. Although it established important protections for young users, many argue that it needs updating to address new challenges such as mobile apps and social media platforms that weren’t as prevalent in 1998. Evaluating its effectiveness involves considering how well it adapts to these changes while still safeguarding children's privacy rights amid emerging digital trends.

Related terms

Verifiable Parental Consent: A requirement under COPPA where operators must obtain consent from a child's parent or guardian through methods such as signed forms, credit card verification, or phone calls.

Personal Information: Any data that can be used to identify an individual, including names, addresses, email addresses, and other information collected from children under COPPA.

Digital Footprint: The trail of data that individuals leave behind while using the internet, which can include their browsing history, social media activity, and interactions with websites.