COPPA

Definition

COPPA, or the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, is a U.S. federal law enacted in 1998 designed to protect the privacy of children under the age of 13 by regulating how websites collect and use their personal information. It requires websites and online services directed toward children to obtain parental consent before collecting, using, or disclosing personal information from children. This law plays a crucial role in advertising practices aimed at vulnerable populations by setting stringent guidelines for marketing to children.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. COPPA applies to all commercial websites and online services that are directed at children or have actual knowledge that they are collecting personal information from children under 13.
2. The law mandates that websites must provide clear privacy policies detailing how children's information is collected, used, and shared.
3. Failure to comply with COPPA can result in significant fines from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which enforces the law.
4. COPPA also gives parents the right to review their child's personal information collected by websites and request deletion of that information.
5. As technology evolves, there are ongoing discussions about updating COPPA to address new challenges related to social media, apps, and other digital platforms targeting children.

Review Questions

• How does COPPA regulate the collection of personal information from children and what implications does this have for advertisers targeting this demographic?
  • COPPA regulates the collection of personal information by requiring websites to obtain parental consent before gathering data from children under 13. This has significant implications for advertisers, as they must navigate these legal requirements when developing marketing strategies aimed at children. Advertisers need to ensure compliance with COPPA while also creating engaging content that appeals to young audiences without infringing on their privacy rights.
• Discuss the role of parental consent in COPPA and its impact on online advertising directed toward children.
  • Parental consent is a cornerstone of COPPA, as it ensures that parents have control over their children's online activities. This requirement impacts online advertising by limiting the amount of personal data advertisers can collect without explicit permission. As a result, advertisers may need to rethink their strategies, using more general audience data rather than specific child information, which could lead to less targeted but potentially more ethical advertising practices.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of COPPA in protecting children's privacy in the context of modern digital marketing strategies and technologies.
  • The effectiveness of COPPA in protecting children's privacy has become increasingly complex due to advancements in digital marketing strategies and technologies. While COPPA provides a foundational framework for protecting children's data, challenges arise with the rise of social media, mobile apps, and data analytics that often target younger audiences. Evaluating its effectiveness requires examining whether COPPA's regulations adequately address current marketing practices and whether updates are necessary to ensure comprehensive protection in a rapidly changing digital landscape.

Related terms

Parental Consent: The requirement under COPPA for websites and online services to obtain explicit permission from a child's parent or guardian before collecting personal information.

Personal Information: Any data that can be used to identify an individual, including names, addresses, email addresses, and other identifiers related to children under COPPA.

Vulnerable Populations: Groups such as children or those with cognitive impairments that may be more susceptible to misleading advertising and require special protections.