Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act - S.1418 & H.R.7890

Summary

The bill amends the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 to strengthen online protections for users under the age of 17. It would require platforms to obtain opt-in consent before collecting any personal information from minors. The bill would establish a Digital Marketing Bill of Rights, which would establish that platforms cannot collect personal information on users if they are likely a teen. Operators of a website, online service, online application, mobile application, or connected device would no longer be allowed to target marketing toward minors and must implement mechanisms to allow parents and users to delete personal information. A Youth Privacy and Marketing Division at the Federal Trade Commission would be established to enforce the bill and provide a report to the House and Senate on how platforms are operating in accordance with the act. COPPA 2.0 was also introduced in the 117th Congress, but was not voted out of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

The Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA) aimed to create a safer experience for children online and increase parent involvement. It imposed certain requirements on online service operators that have actual knowledge they are collecting personal information online from children under 13 years of age. Some of these include obtaining parental consent before collecting a child’s personal data, disclosures to parents of any data collected on their child, a right to have a child’s information deleted, and more.

Updates

July 27, 2023. Advances through the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

December 13, 2023. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders.

April 9, 2024. A House companion (H.R.7890) bill is introduced.