Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)

The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) is a federal law that went into effect in 2000 that regulates how an organization can use the Web to collect, store and disclose personal information about children. The law sets restrictions on operators of Web sites as well as Web services, such as chat rooms and webmail. The purpose of COPPA is to protect the privacy and safety of children and to limit how Web sites market to children.

To be COPPA-compliant, the operator is required to publish a detailed privacy policy on the Web site that describes what information is collected, how it is used, and whether it is shared with others. The operator must also obtain parental consent to collect, use or disclose any personal information about a child under 13. The term personal information refers to a name, home address, geographic location, email address, a telephone number, Social Security number and any other data that could be used to identify an individual.

When the law was first passed in 2000, businesses felt it was complicated (Contending with COPPA Confusion ). It is difficult to know who to blame, for example, if a young Web site user lies about her age or parental consent and divulges her personal information. Adding to the confusion, a law with a similar name but different objective called the Child Online Protection Act, or COPA, was declared unconstitutional by federal courts around the same time.

To address COPPA, some businesses choose to avoid collecting personal information from users, especially those who are under 13. A lack of knowledge about their customers, however, can be detrimental for some businesses. For detailed guidelines on running a COPPA-compliant Web site, businesses should refer to the information provided by the Federal Trade Commission .

Despite COPPA's restrictions, the controversial issue of Internet marketing to children remains a concern. Popular brands have made partnerships with Web sites for children like Gaia and Whyville to allow their products to appear on their games and Web pages. Such partnerships become more common as social networking sites and virtual worlds gain popularity. Although COPPA pressures Web sites to protect a child's personal information, it does not stop a child from being exposed to the negative influences of Internet advertising.