How to Protect Kids' Privacy Online
Whether playing,
shopping, studying or just surfing, today's kids are taking advantage
of all that the web has to offer. But when it comes to their personal
information online, who's in charge? In an effort to put parents in
the catbird seat, the Federal Trade Commission has established new
rules for website operators to make sure that kids' privacy is
protected while they're online. These rules are part of the 1998
Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. Here's a look at what the
law requires, starting April 21, 2000.
Website Operators Must:
Post their
privacy policy.
Websites directed to children or that knowingly collect information
from kids under 13 must post a notice of their information collection
practices that includes:
- types of personal
information they collect from kids-for example, name, home address,
email address or hobbies.
- how the site will
use the information-for example, to market to the child who supplied
the information, to notify contest winners or to make the
information available through a child's participation in a chat
room.
- whether personal
information is forwarded to advertisers or other third parties.
- a contact at the
site.
Get parental consent.
In many cases, a site must obtain parental consent before collecting,
using or disclosing personal information about a child.
Consent is not required when a site is collecting an email address to:
- respond to a
one-time request from the child.
- provide notice to
the parent.
- ensure the safety
of the child or the site.
- send a newsletter
or other information on a regular basis as long as the site notifies
a parent and gives them a chance to say no to the arrangement.
Parents Should:
Look for a
privacy policy on any website directed to children.
The policy must be available through a link on the website's homepage
and at each area where personal information is collected from kids.
Websites for general audiences that have a children's section must
post the notice on the homepages of the section for kids.
Read the policy closely to learn the kinds of personal information
being collected, how it will be used, and whether it will be passed on
to third parties. If you find a website that doesn't post basic
protections for children's personal information, ask for details about
their information collection practices.
Decide whether to
give consent.
Giving consent authorizes the website to collect personal information
from your child. You can give consent and still say no to having your
child's information passed along to a third party.
Your consent isn't necessary if the website is collecting your child's
email address simply to respond to a one-time request for information.
The FTC works for the consumer to
prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the
marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and
avoid them. To file a
complaint or to get free information
on consumer issues, visit
www.ftc.gov or
call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The
FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft and other fraud-related
complaints into
Consumer Sentinel, a
secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law
enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
|
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION |
FOR THE CONSUMER |
1-877-FTC-HELP |
www.ftc.gov |
|
February 2000 |