About COPPA
Mar 5, 2023
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 who use the internet. The law specifically addresses the collection of personal information by websites and online services from children and the obligations of operators of these websites or online services. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is responsible for enforcing COPPA.
Key Provisions of COPPA:
Parental Consent: Before collecting, using, or disclosing personal information from a child, operators must obtain verifiable parental consent. This is a core provision that ensures parents are aware of and approve any personal information that is collected from their children.
Privacy Notices: Websites and online services must provide a clear and comprehensive privacy policy that describes their practices regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information from children. This policy must be easily accessible and understandable.
Disclosure Restrictions: Personal information collected from children cannot be disclosed to third parties unless there is a compelling reason that is consistent with the reason the information was initially collected. Exceptions are made for situations where third parties are providing support for the internal operations of the website or service.
Access and Deletion: Parents have the right to review the personal information collected from their children and can request the information to be deleted and refuse further collection or use of the child’s information.
Data Security: Operators must take reasonable measures to protect the confidentiality, security, and integrity of personal information collected from children.
Limited Collection: Operators must collect only as much personal information from children as is necessary for participation in an online activity.
Purpose and Impact:
COPPA aims to give parents control over what information is collected from their young children online. It was enacted in response to growing concerns about children's privacy due to the rise of the internet and online activities where children might not understand the implications of revealing personal information about themselves or others.
The law impacts any website or online service directed to children under 13, as well as websites or online services that have actual knowledge that they are collecting personal information from children under 13. Non-compliance with COPPA can result in significant penalties from the FTC, making it crucial for businesses to understand and adhere to its requirements if they operate in this space.