The Child Online Protection Act, or COPA, is a legislation aimed at safeguarding children from harmful online content. It mandates websites to implement protective measures to prevent minors from accessing inappropriate material. Additionally, it prohibits the distribution of harmful content to minors through online platforms. COPA plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety of children during their internet usage.
The Child Online Protection Act (COPA) is a US law enacted in 1998 to safeguard children from harmful internet content. For instance, COPA mandates websites to verify the age of users before granting access to potentially harmful material like pornography or violence. This requirement ensures that minors are protected from inappropriate content that may negatively impact their growth and development.
Copa stands for the Child Online Privacy Protection Act, a federal law in the United States that regulates the online collection of personal information from children under the age of 13.
Copa applies to operators of commercial websites and online services that are directed towards children under 13 years old or have actual knowledge that they are collecting personal information from children under 13.
Personal information under Copa includes a child’s full name, home address, email address, telephone number, social security number, or any other information that can be used to identify or contact a specific individual.
Operators must obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting, using, or disclosing personal information from children under 13. This can be done through various methods, such as obtaining a signed consent form, using a credit card, or verifying a parent’s identity over the phone.
Yes, there are a few exceptions to obtaining parental consent, such as collecting a child’s email address solely for the purpose of responding to a one-time request or providing notice to parents and obtaining consent for ongoing communication.
Non-compliance with Copa can result in significant penalties, including fines of up to $43,280 per violation. Additionally, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) can bring enforcement actions against operators who fail to comply with the law.
Yes, parents have the right to review, delete, or revoke their consent for their child’s personal information to be collected or used by an operator. Operators must provide a reasonable means for parents to exercise these rights.
Operators can ensure compliance with Copa by implementing a comprehensive privacy policy that clearly outlines their data collection practices, obtaining verifiable parental consent, and regularly reviewing and updating their privacy practices to align with the law’s requirements.
Yes, several countries have similar laws to protect children’s online privacy, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) in Canada.
Operators can be held liable for third-party actions if they have actual knowledge that a third party is collecting personal information from children on their website or online service, and they fail to take reasonable steps to prevent such collection.
This site contains general legal information but does not constitute professional legal advice for your particular situation. Persuing this glossary does not create an attorney-client or legal adviser relationship. If you have specific questions, please consult a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.
This glossary post was last updated: 17th April 2024.
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