The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) is a federal law designed to protect the privacy of children under the age of 13. For websites targeting children, COPPA compliance is crucial to ensure that personal information is collected and processed in a manner that respects children’s privacy rights. Here are three practical examples of what COPPA compliance looks like in action:
In the context of an educational app designed for children, compliance with COPPA involves obtaining verifiable parental consent before collecting any personal information from users. This includes details like names, email addresses, and location data. The app should also provide a clear privacy policy that outlines the data collection practices and how the information will be used.
An example of this in action might look like this:
To register for the app, parents are prompted to create an account for their child, where they must enter the child’s name and age. After this, a screen appears explaining the purpose of data collection, including how the information will enhance the educational experience. Parents are then asked to provide consent by entering their email address and receiving a confirmation link. The app does not allow children access until this verification step is completed, ensuring compliance with COPPA.
Notes:
For an online gaming platform targeted at children, COPPA compliance entails limiting the collection of personal information and implementing strict age verification measures. The platform must ensure that any data collected is necessary for the game functionality, such as usernames or avatars, and that it does not gather more personal information than required.
In practice, here’s how this could work:
When a child signs up for the gaming platform, they are only required to provide a username and a non-identifiable avatar. During the registration process, a pop-up window appears explaining that no personal information like real names or addresses will be collected. The platform also uses a simple age gate, asking users to select their age range (under 13, 13-17, and 18+) before proceeding. If a user indicates they are under 13, the registration process is halted, and parents receive an email notification to complete a consent form if they wish their child to use the platform.
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An e-commerce website that sells toys and games for children must also adhere to COPPA by ensuring that it does not collect personal information from visitors without parental consent. The website should clearly communicate its data practices and provide parents with the option to control their child’s data.
For instance:
When a child attempts to create an account or make a purchase, the website first presents a screen with a brief explanation of why certain information is needed, like shipping addresses and payment details. Parents are required to enter their email address to receive a consent request before the child can finalize their account. The website also offers a dedicated section in the privacy policy for parents, detailing their rights under COPPA, including how to access and delete their child’s data if they choose.
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By implementing these examples of COPPA compliance for websites targeting children, businesses can ensure they respect children’s privacy while providing valuable services.