COPPA: An Overview of Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act

Are you aware of what is COPPA law? In addition, do you know how can your website be COPPA compliant?

Children have increased online connectivity, accessing information and interactive content in today’s digital age. 

While this provides learning and entertainment, it raises concerns about Children’s Online Privacy and Safety. This law aims to safeguard the personal information of children under 13 in the digital world.

Understanding and complying with COPPA regulations is now crucial for businesses, educators, and policymakers.

Let’s explore its impact on the digital landscape and discuss strategies for ensuring the security of young internet users.

What is the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)

The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA) requires website owners to protect the privacy of children under thirteen.

The US Congress approved the Act in 1998 before enacting it in April 2000. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) oversees this law.

Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act Specifies the Following Conditions:

• That website must obtain verified parental approval before collecting or using any personal data belonging to minors; 
• what should be in a privacy policy, including the need for it to be posted everywhere data is gathered;
• When and how should a parent or guardian be asked for verified consent? 
• What legal obligations does the website owner have concerning children’s privacy and safety online? That includes restrictions on marketing methods targeting children under 13.

Who Must Comply With Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)?

The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act applies to owners of commercial websites that target children under thirteen. 

The following organizations need to abide by COPPA compliance:

• Operators of Websites or Services Directed at Children: This refers to any organization that runs an internet service or website targeted at children younger than 13.
• Operators of Websites for a General Audience Knowing Children Users: Websites or online service operators targeting a general audience must comply with this law. If they knowingly collect personal data from children under thirteen, they must comply with the regulations.
• Third-Party Services and Plug-Ins: This law also covers third-party services like advertising networks and plug-ins. These services are aware that they knowingly collect personal data from users of websites and services aimed at minors.

COPPA Compliance is vital to safeguarding children’s online privacy and safety, but violating these regulations can have severe consequences. Accordingly, covered companies must comprehend their responsibilities and act appropriately to abide by COPPA privacy.

What Are Consumer Rights Under COPPA Law?

The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) grants consumers the following rights:

• Right to Notice: Parents are entitled to information about how websites that target children under 13 collect data.
• Right to Consent: The parent’s consent must be verified before any personal information about a child under 13 is gathered.
• Right to Review Information: Parents are entitled to see the personal data gathered about them and ask to be removed.
• Right to Opt-Out: Parents can refuse the continued gathering or application of their child’s data.
• Right to Data Security: Parents are entitled to expect their child’s private data to be kept safe from prying eyes.
• Right to Enforcement: If customers feel that this law has been broken, they can submit a complaint to the FTC.

These rights protect children’s internet security and privacy and empower parents to determine the data collected about their children.

How Businesses Can Comply With COPPA Regulations

Businesses can comply with COPPA regulations by taking the following steps:

• Understand COPPA Requirements: Become familiar with the particular guidelines set forth by COPPA, such as what personal information is, how to get verifiable consent from parents, and the obligations regarding the handling of children’s data.
• Update Privacy Policies: Specify how you will gather, utilize, and disclose personal data from children under 13 and how parents may access or remove their data.
• Obtain Verifiable Parental Consent: Before collecting personal information from a child, use techniques like signed consent forms, phone verification, or credit card verification to obtain verifiable parental consent.
• Implement Secure Data Practices: To avoid unwanted access or data breaches, safely store and safeguard children’s personal information gathered on your website or online service.
• Provide Parental Controls: Offer parents the option to examine the data gathered on their children, edit or remove it, and choose not to have more data collected in the future.
• Train Staff: To ensure everyone knows their duties, train staff members who handle data about the regulations and the significance of following this law.
• Monitor Compliance: As your website or online service changes, periodically review and audit your data-gathering procedures to ensure compliance with this law.

By following these steps and staying informed about updates to COPPA regulations, businesses can demonstrate their commitment to protecting children’s online privacy and avoid potential penalties for non-compliance.

COPPA Penalties and Fines for Non-Compliance 

The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) imposes considerable fines and penalties for failure to comply. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is responsible for enforcing this law and can penalize websites and online service owners that violate the regulations.

Penalties for non-compliance under COPPA regulations can be as high as $42,530 per violation. This means that a website or online service may face fines for every instance in which it is found to have collected personal information from multiple children without their parent’s consent. 

Additionally, the FTC may take legal action against violators, potentially harming the non-compliant entity’s reputation and resulting in financial consequences.

Companies and organizations that serve children or gather personal data from children must comprehend and abide by COPPA standards to avoid penalties and fines for non-compliance.

Proactively ensuring COPPA compliance helps prevent financial consequences and shows a dedication to safeguarding children’s online privacy and safety.

FAQ 

Conclusion 

The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) is crucial legislation that aims to protect the online privacy of children under 13.

COPPA places essential restrictions on collecting and using personal information from young users, which requires parental consent, and imposes obligations on website operators and online service providers. 

As technology continues to evolve, businesses and organizations must stay informed about COPPA requirements to ensure compliance and safeguard the privacy and safety of children online.  

To ensure compliance, we recommend you use WP Legal Pages compliance platform, which will provide you with one complete legal and cookie protection plan under proof.

If you’ve liked reading this article, check out our other engaging articles as well:

• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
• The California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA)
• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

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