COPPA Compliance Back In Congressional Crosshairs

With more children getting online, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is not the only stakeholder concerned about reevaluating regulations related to children's online privacy. Certain members of Congress are also seeking to review the current landscape of compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Note that the FTC received public comments regarding possible changes in implementation of the enforcement of COPPA in December 2019, and will be responding soon.

Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) sent a letter to the FTC on April 21 asking the government agency to investigate around 150 mobile applications accessible through mobile app stores. Their concerns are related to how app store platforms address apps directed to children, including providing apps with a way to market the application through platform-approved family-friendly designation. The letter alleges that the apps are marketed as COPPA-compliant even