COPPA

Definition

The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) is a U.S. federal law designed to protect the privacy of children under the age of 13 when they are using online services. This law requires that websites and online services directed toward children obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting, using, or disclosing personal information from children. COPPA ensures that educational technology tools comply with privacy standards, maintaining children's safety in digital learning environments.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. COPPA was enacted in 1998 and came into effect on April 21, 2000, reflecting the growing concern over children's privacy in the digital age.
2. The law applies to operators of websites and online services that are directed at children or have actual knowledge that they are collecting information from children under 13.
3. COPPA requires operators to create a clear and comprehensive privacy policy that details their information practices and how they will use children's personal data.
4. If a website is found to be in violation of COPPA, it may face significant penalties from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which can include hefty fines.
5. Schools using educational technology must ensure that the tools they use comply with COPPA regulations to protect students' privacy and avoid legal issues.

Review Questions

• How does COPPA influence the way educational technology providers design their services for children?
  • COPPA influences educational technology providers by requiring them to implement stringent measures to protect children's personal information. Providers must obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting data from users under 13, which impacts the design and functionality of their services. As a result, many platforms opt for features that limit data collection or create user-friendly consent mechanisms to comply with COPPA requirements while still engaging young learners.
• Discuss the relationship between COPPA and FERPA in the context of student privacy in educational settings.
  • COPPA and FERPA both aim to protect student privacy but address different aspects. While COPPA focuses on the collection of personal information from children under 13 by online services, FERPA governs the privacy of education records for all students. In educational settings, schools must ensure compliance with both laws when using technology that may collect student data, creating a layered approach to privacy protection that considers both online activities and traditional educational records.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of COPPA in safeguarding children's online privacy since its implementation in 2000, considering technological advancements.
  • Since its implementation in 2000, COPPA has been effective in raising awareness about children's online privacy issues and has prompted many companies to adopt responsible data practices. However, with rapid technological advancements, including social media and mobile applications, challenges remain. Critics argue that COPPA needs updates to address new forms of data collection and sharing, as well as global internet use patterns. Overall, while COPPA has laid an essential foundation for protecting young users, continuous evaluation and adaptation are necessary to keep pace with the evolving digital landscape.

Related terms

FERPA:

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the privacy of student education records and gives parents certain rights regarding their children's education information.

Parental Consent: A legal requirement under COPPA where parents must provide permission for websites or online services to collect personal information from their children.

Personal Information: Data that can be used to identify an individual, which under COPPA includes names, addresses, email addresses, and other identifiers that pertain to children.