The F.T.C. Proposes Enhanced Protections for Kids Online

Summary:

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has proposed sweeping changes to strengthen children’s privacy online. These changes aim to bolster the rules established by the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA) and curb the use and monetization of children’s data by social media, game, and learning apps.

Key Points:

• The proposed changes would shift the responsibility of online safety from parents to apps and digital services.
• Online services would be required to turn off targeted advertising by default for children under 13.
• Personal details, such as a child’s cellphone number, cannot be used to keep children on platforms longer or bombard them with push notifications.
• Security requirements for online services collecting children’s data would be strengthened, and the length of time that information can be kept would be limited.
• Learning apps and educational-tech providers would face restrictions on collecting student data, with consent only allowed for educational purposes.

Lina M. Khan’s Statement:

“Kids must be able to play and learn online without being endlessly tracked by companies looking to hoard and monetize their personal data,” said Lina M. Khan, the chair of the Federal Trade Commission. She emphasized that the proposed changes place affirmative obligations on service providers and prohibit them from outsourcing their responsibilities to parents.

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