Skip Page Banner  
    About This Blog

     

    The Social Media Law Blog is a forum for lawyers, compliance personnel, human resources managers, and other professionals who are struggling with the legal implications of social media across a broad variety of topics. Working professionals and Bloomberg BNA editors may share ideas, raise issues, and network with colleagues to build a community of knowledge on this rapidly evolving topic. The ideas presented here are those of individuals, and Bloomberg BNA bears no responsibility for the appropriateness or accuracy of the communications between group members.


     

     

    SOCIAL MEDIA LAW
    BLOG

    Friday, September 13, 2013

    Two Companies Request FTC Review of Proposed COPPA Parental Consent Methods

    by Katie Johnson

    RSS

    The Federal Trade Commission recently asked the public to comment on two applications that would allow social media networks and other online services to obtain parental consent for the collection of children's personal information in compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Rule.

    On July 1, the FTC's amendments to its rule implementing the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA Rule, took effect. The COPPA Rule imposes parental notice and consent requirements on websites and online services collecting personal information from children younger than 13.

    Although the rule sets out several methods for obtaining verifiable parental consent, it also permits an "interested party" to ask the commission to review and approve a different consent method.

    On Aug. 21, the FTC asked for public input on a consent method proposed by privacy-and-identity-verification technology company AssertID, Inc.  According to its application, the Belmont, Calif.-based company has developed a technology called ConsentIDTM, a service that aims to help website operators obtain verifiable parental consent pursuant to the COPPA Rule. The company said its products and services "leverage advances in the science of Social Network Analysis."

    The FTC Sept. 12 requested public comment on technology services company Imperium LLC's proposed parental consent method. Imperium, based in Westport, Conn., provides a service called ChildGuardOnlineTM that helps websites and mobile applications verify parental consent in compliance with the COPPA Rule, according to its application.

    Comments on AssertID's proposal are due Sept. 20, while comments on Imperium's proposal are due Oct. 9.

    The commission said it is specifically interested in learning whether the proposed parental consent methods: (1) are already covered by existing parental consent methods; (2) meet the COPPA Rule's parental consent requirements and are "reasonably calculated" to ensure that the person consenting is the child's parent; and (3) pose any risks to consumers' personal information and whether any benefits outweigh those risks.

    Publication of the requests for comment in the Federal Register do "not indicate Commission approval of the program," the FTC said in separate statements announcing the requests for comment. "The Commission has 120 days to review proposed verifiable parental consent methods and must set forth its conclusion in writing."

    Copyright 2013, The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc.
    Subscription RequiredAll BNA publications are subscription-based and require an account. If you are a subscriber to the BNA publication and signed-in, you will automatically have access to the story. If you are not a subscriber, you will need to sign-up for a trial subscription.

    You must Sign In or Register to post a comment.

    Comments (0)