COPPA protects children under the age of 13 from having their personal information used by companies without parental consent.
COPPA, the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, safeguards the online privacy of children under the age of 13 in the United States.
Enacted in 1998, COPPA imposes strict regulations on how websites and online services collect, use, and disclose personal information from children.
The law aims to give parents control over what information is collected from their children online and how it is utilized.
COPPA requires websites and online services directed towards children or those with actual knowledge that they are collecting information from children to obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting, using, or disclosing personal information.
The term "personal information" encompasses a wide range of data, including names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, geolocation information, and other identifiers that could be used to identify an individual.
The age threshold of 13 is significant because COPPA considers children under this age as requiring special protections online.
Websites and online services covered by COPPA must also provide clear and accessible privacy policies outlining their data practices.
COPPA safeguards the online privacy rights of children under the age of 13 by imposing restrictions on the collection and use of their personal information, with the goal of ensuring a safer online environment for young users.