Editing Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (section)

==Criticisms==
{{See also|YouTube and privacy#COPPA settlement}}
COPPA is controversial and has been criticized as ineffective and potentially unconstitutional by legal experts<ref name="MateckiUpdate10">{{cite journal |title=Update: COPPA is Ineffective Legislation! Next Steps for Protecting Youth Privacy Rights in the Social Networking Era |journal=Journal of Lawn and Social Policy |author=Matecki, L.A. |volume=5 |issue=2 |pages=7 |year=2010 |url=https://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/njlsp/vol5/iss2/7 |access-date=22 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629152338/http://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/njlsp/vol5/iss2/7/ |archive-date=2016-06-29 |url-status=live}}</ref> and mass media<ref name="MagidUnin12">{{cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/larry-magid/unintended-consequences-o_1_b_1741703.html |title=Unintended Consequences of FTC's New COPPA Children's Online Privacy Rules |author=Magid, L. |work=The Huffington Post |publisher=TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc |date=4 August 2012 |access-date=22 June 2016}}</ref> since it was drafted.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pacificresearch.org/article/new-internet-privacy-rules-will-not-protect-kids/ |title=New Internet Privacy Rules Will Not Protect Kids |access-date=2017-08-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803050007/http://www.pacificresearch.org/article/new-internet-privacy-rules-will-not-protect-kids/ |archive-date=2017-08-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Complaints leveled against the legislation include website owners banning users 12 and under—which only "encourages age fraud and allows websites to bypass the burden of obtaining parental consent"<ref name="MateckiUpdate10" />—and the active suppression of children's rights to freedom of speech, self-expression, and other [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|First Amendment]] rights<ref name="MagidProtect14">{{cite web |url=http://www.siliconvalley.com/larry-magid/ci_26432286 |title=Magid: Protecting children online needs to allow for their right to free speech |author=Magid, L. |work=The Mercury News |publisher=Digital First Media |date=29 August 2014 |access-date=22 June 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325192817/http://www.siliconvalley.com/larry-magid/ci_26432286 |archive-date=25 March 2016 }}</ref><ref name="MorrisAsk10">{{cite web |url=https://cdt.org/blog/ask-cdt-answers-on-first-amendment-rights-online/ |title=Ask CDT: Answers on First Amendment Rights Online |author=Morris, J. |work=CDT Blog |publisher=Center for Democracy and Technology |date=23 November 2010 |access-date=22 June 2016}}</ref> due to necessity of registering accounts to do so.

Delays in obtaining parental consent often result in children moving on to other activities that are less appropriate for their age or pose bigger privacy risks.<ref name="PuckettIns13">{{cite web |url=http://www.emoderation.com/insider-insights-coppa/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118232637/http://www.emoderation.com/insider-insights-coppa/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 November 2016 |title=Insider insights on COPPA |author=Puckett, J.M. |work=Emoderation Blog |publisher=Emoderation Limited |date=14 May 2013 |access-date=22 June 2016}}</ref>

In addition, age restrictions and the "parental consent" process are easy for children to circumvent, and parents generally help them to lie about their age.<ref name="BoydWhy11">{{cite journal |title=Why parents help their children lie to Facebook about age: Unintended consequences of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act |journal=First Monday |author1=Boyd, D. |author2=Hargittai, E. |author3=Schultz, J. |author4=Palfrey, J. |volume=16 |issue=11 |date=7 November 2011 |url=http://journals.uic.edu/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/3850/3075 |access-date=22 June 2016}}</ref><ref name="GriggsParents11">{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/01/tech/social-media/underage-facebook-parents-study/ |title=Parents help kids lie to get on Facebook, study finds |author=Griggs, B. |work=CNN.com |publisher=Turner Broadcasting System, Inc |date=1 November 2011 |access-date=22 June 2016}}</ref>

An Internet Safety Technical Task Force composed of experts from academia and commercial companies found in 2012 that mandatory age verification is not only a poor solution for privacy but also constitutes a violation of privacy.<ref name="PerlrothVeri12">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/18/technology/verifying-ages-online-is-a-daunting-task-even-for-experts.html |title=Verifying Ages Online Is a Daunting Task, Even for Experts |author=Perlroth, N. |work=The New York Times |date=17 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180131002202/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/18/technology/verifying-ages-online-is-a-daunting-task-even-for-experts.html |archive-date=31 January 2018 |access-date=21 July 2019 |url-status=unfit}}</ref> The law has also many safety flaws. For example, it does not protect kids from predatory advertising,<ref name="KluverParent13">{{cite web|url=http://digitalmediadiet.com/parental-notification-the-ftc-and-kids-apps-whats-coppa-all-about/|title=Parental Notification, the FTC and Kids Apps: What's COPPA all about?|author=Kluver, C.|date=5 July 2013|work=Digital Media Diet|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906174132/http://digitalmediadiet.com/parental-notification-the-ftc-and-kids-apps-whats-coppa-all-about/|archive-date=6 September 2015|access-date=22 June 2016}}</ref> it does not prevent kids from accessing [[pornography]] or lying about their age,<ref name="FTC_COPPA_FAQ" /> and it does not ensure a totally safe environment online. Tech journalist [[Larry Magid]], a long-time vocal opponent of the law,<ref name="MagidUnin12" /><ref name="MagidProtect14" /><ref name="MagidNewLaw00" /> also notes that parents, not the government, hold the bulk of responsibility of protecting children online.<ref name="MagidNewLaw00" /> COPPA has also been criticized for its potential [[chilling effect]] on children's apps, content, websites and online services. For example, [[Snapchat]] released a Snapkidz version of its app in June 2013, but unlike Snapchat, Snapkidz did not allow photo sharing at all due to COPPA regulations.<ref name="ChaeySnap13">{{cite web |url=http://www.fastcompany.com/3013446/fast-feed/snapchat-debuts-snapkidz-a-sext-free-app-for-kids-under-13 |title=Snapchat Debuts SnapKidz, A Sext-Free App For Kids Under 13 |author=Chaey, C. |work=Fast Company |publisher=Mansueto Ventures, LLC |date=24 June 2013 |access-date=22 June 2016}}</ref> Similarly, it has been pointed out that the COPPA Rule was not necessarily about privacy protection but more about "enforcing the laws."<ref name="PuckettIns13" />

COPPA's penalties ($40,000 per violation) can be potentially catastrophic for small businesses, undermining their business model.<ref name="KamenetzHow13">{{cite web |url=http://www.fastcompany.com/3013557/tech-forecast/how-the-new-coppa-requirements-are-bad-for-businesses-and-kids |title=How the New COPPA Requirements Are Bad for Businesses and Kids |author=Kamenetz, A. |work=Fast Company |publisher=Mansueto Ventures, LLC |date=28 June 2013 |access-date=22 June 2016}}</ref><ref name="DavisIAB12">{{cite web |url=http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/183786/iab-proposed-childrens-privacy-rules-undermine-b.html |title=IAB: Proposed Children's Privacy Rules Undermine Business Model |author=Davis, W. |work=Online Media Daily |publisher=MediaPost Communications |date=25 September 2012 |access-date=22 June 2016}}</ref> By contrast, the FTC has been criticized, including by COPPA author [[Ed Markey]], and FTC commissioner [[Rohit Chopra]], for not fining major and [[big tech]] companies harshly enough for their COPPA violations, especially in comparison to their revenue. In contrast, violators of the [[European Union]]'s [[General Data Protection Regulation]] (GDPR) may be fined up to 4% of their annual global revenue.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fortune.com/2019/01/18/apple-netflix-youtube-gdpr/|title=Apple, Netflix and YouTube among Streamers Flouting EU Privacy Law, Say New Complaints|website=Fortune|language=en|access-date=2019-09-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/04/youtube-fine-shows-us-is-not-serious-about-big-tech-crackdown.html|title=YouTube fine shows the US government is not serious about a Big Tech crackdown|last=Feiner|first=Lauren|date=2019-09-04|website=CNBC|language=en|access-date=2019-09-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mashable.com/article/ftc-fine-youtube/|title=YouTube's $170 million fine isn't enough—and part of the FTC knows it|last=Binder|first=Matt|website=Mashable|date=4 September 2019|language=en|access-date=2019-09-08}}</ref>

With the rise of virtual education, COPPA may inadequately represent the role of administrators, teachers, and the school in protecting student privacy under the assumption of ''[[In loco parentis|loco parentis]]''.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Hostetler|first1=David R|title=Children's privacy in virtual K-12 education: virtual solutions of the amended Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) rule.|journal=North Carolina Journal of Law & Technology|date=2013|volume=Online Ed 167}}</ref>

[[Mark Zuckerberg]], co-founder and CEO of [[Facebook]], expressed opposition to COPPA in 2011 and stated "That will be a fight we take on at some point. My philosophy is that for education you need to start at a really, really young age."<ref name="Lev-RamZuck11">{{cite web |url=http://fortune.com/2011/05/20/zuckerberg-kids-under-13-should-be-allowed-on-facebook/ |title=Zuckerberg: Kids under 13 should be allowed on Facebook |work=Fortune |author=Lev-Ram, M. |publisher=Time, Inc |date=20 May 2011 |access-date=22 June 2016}}</ref> The next year, [[Jim Steyer]], the CEO of [[Common Sense Media]], has called for updates to COPPA, calling the time of the act's creation "the stone age of digital media" and pointing out the lack of platforms such as Google, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter at the time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2012/05/24/153576212/keeping-your-kids-safe-online-its-common-sense|title=Keeping Your Kids Safe Online|website=[[NPR]]}}</ref>

In 2019, the [[Government of New York (state)|Government of the State of New York]] sued [[YouTube]] for violating COPPA by illegally retaining information related to children under 13 years of age. YouTube responded by dividing its content strictly into "for kids" and "not for kids". This has met with extremely harsh criticism from the YouTube community, especially from gamers, with many alleging that the [[Federal Trade Commission|FTC]] of the United States intends to fine [[YouTuber|content creators]] $42,530 for "each mislabeled video", possibly putting all users at risk.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wgnradio.com/2019/11/20/all-you-need-to-know-about-coppa-on-youtube/|title=All You Need To Know About COPPA On Youtube|first=Shaun|last=Tagarth|website=[[WGN (AM)|WGN Radio]]|date=November 20, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/platform/amp/2019/11/13/20963459/youtube-google-coppa-ftc-fine-settlement-youtubers-new-rules|title=YouTube's new kids' content system has creators scrambling|website=[[The Verge]]|date=November 13, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nerdist.com/article/youtube-ftc-kids-content-creators-demonetize/%3famp|title=YouTube's FTC-Mandated Rules for Kids Content Infuriate Creators|first=Matthew|last=Hart|website=Nerdist|date=November 18, 2019}}</ref> However, some have expressed skepticism over this, feeling that the fines may actually be in reference to civil penalties, possibly intended for the site's operators and/or warranted by more serious of COPPA violations or specific cases of "mislabeling videos".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs/business-blog/2019/11/youtube-channel-owners-your-content-directed-children|title=YouTube channel owners: Is your content directed to children?|website=[[Federal Trade Commission]]|date=November 22, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thegamer.com/childrens-online-privacy-protection-act-coppa-guide/|title=COPPA: Everything Content Creators Need To Know|website=TheGamer|date=November 23, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://slate.com/technology/2019/11/youtube-coppa-google-ftc-settlement-children-privacy.html|title=Misinformed YouTubers Are Undermining the Fight for Children's Privacy Online|website=[[Slate Magazine]]|date=November 27, 2019}}</ref> As of December 2022, no YouTuber has been fined.<ref>{{Cite web|title=COPPA Hasn't Fined ANYONE Yet? ($42,000)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTwRuw4M8t8|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/MTwRuw4M8t8|archive-date=2021-12-11|url-status=live|website=YouTube|publisher=Deep Humor|date=July 13, 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref>{{Outdated statistic}}{{unreliable source|date=December 2024}}

Several bills have been proposed to amend COPPA. Markey and [[Josh Hawley]] introduced multiple bills (in the House in 2018 as the "Do Not Track Kids Act", and in 2019 as a Senate measure) proposing that COPPA ban the use of [[targeted advertising]] to users under 13, require personal consent before the collection of personal information from users ages 13–15, require connected devices and toys directed towards children to meet security standards and include a privacy policy disclosure on their packaging, and require services to offer an "eraser button" to "permit users to eliminate publicly available personal information content submitted by the child, when technologically feasible". In January 2020, [[Bobby Rush]] and [[Tim Walberg]] introduced a similar house bill known as the Preventing Real Online Threats Endangering Children Today (PROTECT Kids) Act, which would extend all existing COPPA consent requirements to users under the age of 16, and explicitly add [[mobile app]]s, "precise geolocation", and biometric data to its remit.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/9/21058562/eraser-button-childrens-data-coppa-walberg-rush-hawley-markey-congress-house|title='Eraser button' for children's data gains support in the House|last=Kelly|first=Makena|date=2020-01-09|website=The Verge|language=en|access-date=2020-01-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=cb2a487c-fac0-4408-a67c-ed1f4c3f24c9|title=New Bill Seeks to Update Children's Online Privacy Protections with the PROTECT Kids Act|last1=Jenner|last2=Saunders|first2=Block LLP-David P.|website=Lexology|language=en|access-date=2020-01-17|last3=Martinez|first3=Jessica A.|date=14 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.multichannel.com/news/kids-online-erase-button-penciled-in-once-again|title=Kids Online 'Erase Button' Penciled In Once Again|last=Eggerton|first=John|website=Multichannel|date=23 May 2018|language=en-us|access-date=2020-01-17}}</ref>