What protections does the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) provide?

The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) is a United States federal law that was passed in 1998 to address the growing issue of personal data being collected from children online. The law provides strong protections for children by limiting the collection of personal information from minors under the age of 13. Under the act, websites must prominently display a privacy policy that explains what personal data is collected, how it is used, and to whom it is disclosed. Website operators must also notify parents about what data is being collected and how it is being used, and obtain verifiable parental consent before any data is collected. COPPA also restricts website operators from using certain kinds of data to target advertising to children, prohibiting online marketing aimed at children and forcing websites to be more transparent about their marketing tactics. In California, the state Attorney General has the authority to enforce COPPA. Any website operator who fails to comply with COPPA can face severe civil and criminal penalties. California also has its own privacy law, the California Consumer Privacy Act, which applies to both adults and children. In summary, COPPA provides important protections for children by limiting the collection of personal information from minors under the age of 13, requiring website operators to be transparent about their data practices, and preventing targeted advertising aimed at children. With strong enforcement from the state of California, websites must adhere to the law’s strict requirements or face hefty fines.

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