What is the Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act of 1986 (COPPA)?

COPPA was passed to protect against the online collection of personal information of children under the age of 13 years. Enforcement of COPPA is charged to the FTC, which issues regulations for its enforcement. The rules regulate commercial websites, online services, mobile apps, etc., that collect personal information from operators of the site. More specifically, COPPA applies to any site that collects personal information and is targeted toward children under 13 years old or sites that collect information with knowledge that children under the age of 13 years are using the site. COPPA also applies to individuals or businesses that collect this type of consumer information off of the websites of others. 

What are the Requirements on Businesses that Collect Consumer Information? 

Operators of such sites must comply with the following provisions:

• Online Privacy Policy - Inform users of their practices of recording user information;
• Parental Consent - Provide notice to parents of the intent to collect childrens information and obtain parental consent;
• Limited Disclosure - Prohibit the disclosure of information collected about children, except in limited circumstances;
• Parental Review - Allow parents to review (and request deletion) of the collected information;
• Parental Limitations - Allow parents to prevent further use or future collection of the childs information;
• Confidentiality - Maintain security in the storage of information; and
• Limited Retention - Not maintain the information longer than necessary, and delete the information after it has served its intended purpose.

Related Topics

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• What is consumer protection law?
• Cooling Off Rule
• What major federal laws protect consumers?
• What is the Federal Trade Commission
• Enforcement procedures of the FTC?
• Penalties for violating FTC regulations?
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• Unfair Trade Practices 
  
• Predatory Pricing
• Bait & Switch
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• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
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• Users of Information?
• Credit Reporting Agency Consumers
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• Consumer Reporting Agency
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• Enforcement?
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• Electronic Funds Transfers (EFT)
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• Consumer Product Safety Act
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• Privacy Act of 1974 (Privacy Act)
• Personally Identifiable Information
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• Electronic Communication Privacy Act of 1986 (ECPA)
• Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act of 1986 (COPPA)
• Privacy Policy
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• What role do states play in Consumer Protection?