Changes to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”) become effective July 1, 2013. The FTC sent updated educational letters to over 90 companies with online services or mobile applications that appear to collect personal information from children under the age of 13. The revised COPPA rule broadens the definition of “personal information” to include persistent identifiers, such as cookies, IP addresses and mobile device IDs. Use of persistent identifiers  require companies to receive parental consent unless the persistent identifiers are used for very limited purposes.

Businesses with online services and mobile app developers should be aware of these new requirements, as the FTC indicates enforcement activities will begin this summer.

Please contact a member of MMM’s Privacy Practice Group for more information.

You can view the FTC letters here.
This information is presented for educational purposes and is not intended to constitute legal advice. Opinions expressed are those of the author and not of Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP; see disclaimer at http://www.www.mmmtechlaw.com/privacy-policy-and-disclaimer/.