New COPPA Consent Method Gives Websites Greater Flexibility

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently approved a new method for obtaining verifiable parental consent that could make it easier for companies to comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) Rule. The COPPA Rule applies to websites that are "targeted" at children under the age of 13 and websites that have "actual knowledge" that they are collecting personal information directly from users of another website or online service directed to children (covered websites). Primarily, the Rule requires a covered website to provide notice to parents about its information collection practices, as well as obtain verifiable parental consent prior to collecting personal information from children. To assist companies in complying with the verifiable parental consent requirement of the COPPA Rule, a technology services company called Imperium LLC developed the new method, which it hopes will streamline the consent process for parents and website operators.