Children's Online Privacy Protection Act

Definition

The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) is a U.S. federal law enacted in 1998 designed to protect the privacy of children under the age of 13 by regulating how websites and online services collect, use, and disclose personal information from children. This act requires operators of websites and online services targeted towards children to obtain parental consent before collecting, using, or disclosing any personal information from children. COPPA aims to give parents more control over their children's online activities and ensure that children's privacy is respected in the digital environment.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. COPPA applies specifically to websites and online services directed towards children under 13, impacting various platforms like gaming sites, educational tools, and social media apps.
2. The act mandates clear privacy policies that inform parents about the types of personal information collected and how it will be used.
3. Enforcement of COPPA is carried out by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which has the authority to impose penalties for non-compliance.
4. COPPA also requires that operators allow parents to review their child's personal information and delete it if they choose.
5. The law has prompted many companies to either restrict access for users under 13 or implement stricter data collection practices to ensure compliance.

Review Questions

• How does the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act empower parents regarding their children's online data?
  • The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act empowers parents by requiring websites and online services to obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting personal information from children under 13. This means that parents must be informed about what data is being collected, how it will be used, and have the option to review or delete their child's data. By giving parents these rights, COPPA ensures that they have control over their children's online experiences and privacy.
• Discuss the impact of COPPA on website operators targeting children under 13 and the steps they must take to comply with the law.
  • COPPA significantly impacts website operators targeting children under 13 by imposing strict regulations on how they handle personal information. To comply with COPPA, operators must develop clear privacy policies detailing data collection practices, obtain parental consent before collecting any information, provide parents with access to their child's data, and allow for its deletion upon request. These requirements often lead operators to modify their services or limit access for younger users to avoid regulatory issues.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of COPPA in protecting children's privacy in an increasingly digital world, considering both strengths and limitations.
  • Evaluating the effectiveness of COPPA reveals both strengths and limitations in protecting children's privacy. On one hand, COPPA has established a crucial legal framework that empowers parents and sets standards for how children's data should be handled. However, its limitations include challenges in enforcement due to the vastness of the internet and the difficulty of age verification, allowing some platforms to evade compliance. Additionally, as new technologies emerge and online interactions evolve, COPPA may need updates to address these changes adequately and ensure comprehensive protection for children's privacy.

Related terms

Parental Consent: The requirement under COPPA for websites and online services to obtain verifiable consent from parents before collecting personal information from children.

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

Federal Trade Commission (FTC):

The U.S. government agency responsible for enforcing COPPA and ensuring compliance with its regulations among businesses that target children online.