FTC Resources for Reporters
The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA): What Parents Should Know
Congress and the FTC have taken special steps to assure that children under 13 years of age don’t share their personal information on the Internet without the express approval of their parents. Congress passed the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act in 1998 and the FTC wrote a rule implementing the law. The FTC has taken law enforcement actions against companies that failed to comply with the provisions of the law and has issued a report to Congress assessing how companies have complied with it. The FTC currently is conducting a review of what changes, if any, should be made to COPPA to reflect the changes that may have been brought about by technological changes such as the rapid adoption of mobile devices.
News Releases:
- FTC Strengthens Kids’ Privacy, Gives Parents Greater Control Over Their Information By Amending Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule – 12/19/2012
- FTC's Second Kids' App Report Finds Little Progress in Addressing Privacy Concerns Surrounding Mobile Applications for Children – 10/10/2012
- Operator of Celebrity Fan Websites to Pay $1 Million to Settle FTC Charges that It Illegally Collected Children's Information Without Their Parents' Consent – 10/04/2012
- FTC Seeks Comments on Additional Proposed Revisions to Children's Online Privacy Protection Rule – 08/01/2012
- FTC Charges That Security Flaws in RockYou Game Site Exposed 32 Million Email Addresses and Passwords – 03/27/2012
- FTC Approves Safe Harbor Program for Aristotle International, Inc. – 02/24/2012
- FTC Report Raises Privacy Questions About Mobile Applications for Children – 02/16/2012
- Operator of Social Networking Website for Kids Settles FTC Charges Site Collected Kids’ Personal Information Without Parental Consent – 11/8/2011
- FTC Testifies on Protecting Children Online in a Fast-Changing Marketplace, and Proposed Changes to COPPA Rule – 10/5/2011
- FTC Seeks Comment on Proposed Revisions to Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule Changes in Technology Drive Proposed Updates – 9/15/2011
- FTC Testifies on Children's Identity Theft – 09/1/2011
- FTC Settles Charges Against Two Companies That Allegedly Failed to Protect Sensitive Employee Data – 05/3/2011
- FTC Testifies on Protecting Teen Privacy – 07/15/2010
- FTC Tells Congress It Is Reviewing Whether Technology Changes Call for Revisions to the Agency's Rule Protecting Kids' Online Privacy – 04/29/2010
- FTC Seeks Comment on Children's Online Privacy Protections; Questions Whether Changes to Technology Warrant Changes to Agency Rule – 03/24/2010
- Iconix Brand Group Settles Charges Its Apparel Web Sites Violated Children's Online Privacy Protection Act – 10/20/2009
- Sony BMG Music Settles Charges Its Music Fan Websites Violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act – 12/11/2008
- Imbee.com Settles FTC Charges Social Networking Site for Kids Violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act; Settlement Includes $130,000 Civil Penalty – 01/30/2008
Twitter Chat Questions and Answers:
- Transcript of FTC #COPPA Twitter Chat – December 2012
- FTC attorneys participate in #PrivChat to discuss proposed changes to COPPA
Reports and Workshops:
- Mobile Apps for Kids: Current Privacy Disclosures Are Disappointing
- Protecting Kids’ Privacy Online
- Virtual Worlds and Kids: Mapping the Risks
Video:
- Peer-to-Peer File Sharing
- Chatting with Kids About Being Online
- Heads Up: Stop. Think. Click.
- The Protection Connection
- Share with Care
- Stand Up to Cyberbullying
Congressional Testimony:
- Testimony on Children’s Privacy: New Technology and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act before the Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation – 04/29/2010
- Testimony on Consumer Privacy Before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation – 07/27/2010
- Testimony on Consumer Privacy before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection – 07/22/2010
- Testimony on Protecting Youths in an Online World before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance – 07/15/2010
Consumer Education:
