The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) is a federal law that was enacted in 1998 to protect children’s online privacy. COPPA requires websites that collect personal information from children to obtain parental permission before collecting, using, or sharing that information.
COPPA applies to any website that is directed to children and that collects, uses, or shares personal information from children under the age of 13. It does not apply to websites that are directed to adults, websites that are operated by schools or other educational institutions, or websites that are operated by companies that are parent companies or subsidiaries of companies that are not headquartered in the United States.
To comply with COPPA, websites must take several measures. First, they must get parental permission before collecting, using, or sharing personal information from children.
Second, they must disclose to parents how their children’s personal information will be used. Third, they must take steps to protect children’s personal information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure.
website must take several measures to protect children’s personal information. Second, they must disclose to parents how their children’s personal information will be used.
Website owners should also consider using COPPA-compliant privacy policies and practices. A privacy policy is a document that explains how your website collects, uses, and shares personal information. It should be easy to find and understand, and it should be posted on your website in a clear and conspicuous location.
Finally, website owners should be aware that COPPA imposes certain financial penalties on those who violate its provisions. These penalties can range from $500 for the first offense to $5,000 for the fourth or subsequent offense.
If you believe that your website is violating COPPA, you should contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to get guidance on how to comply.
