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Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA)
Practical Law Glossary Item 1-502-2553 (Approx. 3 pages)
Glossary
Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA)
A US federal law enforced by the Federal Trade Commission that regulates the online collection and use of personal information from children under the age of 13 (15 U.S.C. §§ 6501-6506 and 16 C.F.R. §§ 312.1-312.13). It applies to commercial websites and online services that either:
- Are directed to children under 13 and collect their personal information.
- Have actual knowledge that they are collecting personal information from children under 13.
Among other things, COPPA requires commercial website operators and online services to:
- Obtain verifiable consent from the children's parents before collecting, using, or disclosing children's information (subject to certain limited exceptions).
- Provide notice of their collection, use, and disclosure practices relating to this information. The notice must meet certain specified requirements.
- Collect only personal information reasonably necessary for a child to participate in an activity.
- Create and maintain reasonable security measures to protect this information.
For more information on COPPA, see Practice Note, Children's Online Privacy: COPPA Compliance.