Co-Written By James E. Long
Enforcement Actions Commenced by FTC
On April 19, 2001, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charged
three Web site owners with collecting personal information from children in
violation of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The FTC also
announced that it had accepted a second "safe harbor" program, a
privately developed industry self-regulatory plan, adherence to which provides
companies the assurance they are complying with COPPA.
These actions by the FTC demonstrate that the agency will be enforcing COPPA
and underscore the importance of knowing and complying with the regulations that
implement the legislation. Internet privacy will be a significant public policy
and business issue in the coming years and many of the principles around which
COPPA has been built could become compliance essentials for all companies, not
just those that are geared toward children.
