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The FTC Follows UpIn an ongoing review of various children's Web sites, the Federal Trade Commission has so far found about half to be skirting the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. The FTC has sent e-mails telling the operators they must post privacy policies and obtain parental consent before collecting personal information from children under 13, according to the COPPA rule that took effect April 1. "We're still in the early stages, so it's not surprising that a fair number of sites are not complying," said Toby Levin, attorney for the Commission's Bureau of Consumer Protection. For Web site operators
who have compliance questions, the Commission will conduct a public training program
Aug. 22 at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. Privacy policies and parental
notices, how to obtain verifiable parental consent, and "safe harbor"
programs are among the topics to be addressed. For directions, or more information
if you can't attend, see http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/kidzprivacy/ Privacy Goes to SchoolIn the fall, the FTC and the Department of Education plan to release a publication schools can use to educate students and parents about online privacy. (Last year, FTC officials said that schools are "not precluded" from acting as guardians to grant parental consent under COPPA.) "We don't want schools to feel they have an extra burden, but certainly in situations where schools will contract with Web site operators, it helps if have they an understanding of the privacy rules," FTC attorney Toby Levin said. "COPPA does not obligate schools in any way  it applies only to Web sites collecting information from children  but where schools choose to act as agents for the parents, they will be more informed about the regulations." Organizations interested
in distributing the publication can find more information at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/kidzprivacy/ | ||||
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