View Rule

View EO 12866 Meetings

Printer-Friendly Version Download RIN Data in XML

FTC

RIN: 3084-AB20

Publication ID: Fall 2011

Title: Children's Online Privacy Protection Rule
Abstract: As required by the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) (1998), the Commission issued rules that prohibit unfair and deceptive acts and practices in connection with the collection and use of personal information from and about children under the age of 13 on the Internet. The rules, effective April 21, 2000, and most recently amended in 2006, require commercial websites, and online service providers (operators), with certain exceptions, to obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting, using, or disclosing personal information from or about children. An operator must make reasonable efforts, in light of available technology, to ensure that the person providing consent is the child's parent. On April 5, 2010, the Commission announced it was requesting comments on the rule, as part of the Commission's systematic review of all current Commission rules and guides. The Commission believed that changes to the online environment over the prior five year period, including but not limited to children's increasing use of mobile technology to access the Internet, warranted reexamining the Rule at this time. The Commission sought comments on, among other things, the economic impact and benefits of this rule; possible conflict between the rule and State, local, or other Federal laws or regulations; and the effect on the rule of any technological, economic, or other industry changes. The comment period closed on July 12, 2010. On September 15, 2011, the Commission announced it was proposing modifications to the Rule in five areas to respond to changes in online technology, including in the mobile marketplace, and, where appropriate, to streamline the Rule: definitions, including the definitions of "personal information" and "collection," parental notice, parental consent mechanisms, confidentiality and security of children's personal information, and the role of self-regulatory "safe harbor" programs. In addition, the Commission also proposed adding a new provision addressing data retention and deletion. The comment period will close on November 28, 2011.
Agency: Federal Trade Commission(FTC)	Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda	Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Proposed Rule Stage
Major: No	Unfunded Mandates: No
CFR Citation: 16 CFR 312
Legal Authority: 15 USC 6501 et seq 15 USC 41 to 58

Legal Deadline: None

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
ANPRM	04/05/2010	75 FR 17089
ANPRM Extended Comment Period End	07/12/2010
NPRM	09/26/2011
Review Comments	12/00/2011

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No	Government Levels Affected: None
Small Entities Affected: Businesses, Organizations	Federalism: No
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No
International Impacts: This regulatory action will be likely to have international trade and investment effects, or otherwise be of international interest.
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No
Related RINs: Related to 3084-AB00
Agency Contact: Phyllis Marcus Attorney Federal Trade Commission 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580 Phone:202 326-2854 Email: pmarcus@ftc.gov