United States’s Federal Trade Commission showed its concern about how tech companies are cheating and collecting the data of Internet users. FTC is looking to update its rules on Internet privacy for children because youths are mostly trapped by tech companies. To update the rules, the five FTC commissioners voted unanimously to find a public response on updating its regulations on the children’s online privacy protection act (COPPA), which has been running for 20 years.
FTC Chairman Joseph Simons said, “In light of rapid technological changes that impact the online children’s marketplace, we must ensure COPPA remains effective, we’re committed to strong COPPA enforcement, as well as industry outreach and a COPPA business hotline to foster a high level of COPPA compliance. But we also need to regularly revisit and, if warranted, update the Rule.”
FTC usually reviews and updates its regulation in every 10 years, and last time it updated children’s privacy law in 2013. A draft notice will be published in the federal register in which the FTC has stated that it is launching a review early due to the questions arising about the rule’s application to the educational technology sector and on the general platforms.
COPPA has already asked websites and Internet service providers to obtain parental consent before collecting data of children under 13. That is because there are some incidents of Internet tracking by websites and internet service providers to share the data with third parties. The FTC is said to be bringing a settlement with YouTube, as its children’s videos are violating the act.
