Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA, 1998)

1) Link to the Text of the Act
Read the statute (15 U.S.C. §§ 6501–6506)

2) Why It Was Done
With the rise of the internet in the 1990s, Congress passed COPPA to protect children’s personal information online. It restricts websites and online services from collecting data from children under 13 without parental consent.

3) Pre-existing Law or Constitutional Rights
Before COPPA, no federal law specifically regulated the collection of children’s personal information online. COPPA built on consumer protection principles and the right to privacy, placing obligations on businesses rather than children or parents.

4) Overreach or Proper Role?
Supporters say COPPA protects children from exploitation and predatory data practices. Critics argue it is outdated, difficult to enforce against foreign companies, and has pushed platforms to ban under-13 users entirely instead of adapting.

5) Who or What It Controls

• Websites, apps, and online services directed at children under 13
• General-audience platforms that knowingly collect data from children
• Parents (given rights to review and control their children’s data)

6) Key Sections / Citations

• 15 U.S.C. § 6502: Requires parental consent before collecting personal information from children under 13.
• FTC regulations (16 C.F.R. Part 312): Enforces compliance, provides detailed rules for operators.

7) Recent Changes or Live Controversies

• FTC continues to update COPPA Rule enforcement (most recently in 2013).
• Ongoing debate about raising the age threshold from 13 to 16.
• Widely criticized as too weak to protect children from modern data-driven platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and gaming apps.

8) Official Sources

• Congress.gov – COPPA 1998
• U.S. Code – 15 U.S.C. §§ 6501–6506
• FTC – Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule (COPPA)

• Internet
• Privacy
• Children
• Technology
• Consumer Protection