History of Computers - COPPA

COPPA is an act initiated on April 21, 2000 and stands for Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. This act prevents websites from gathering information about kids if the child is under 13 years of age.

Overview

COPPA states that any website that can attract a child (someone who is under 13) to their website needs to have a link to their practices that is clearly visible. The act defines clearly visible by saying that it cannot be put in small font or placed among other links that look similar. Contained in the link their needs to be contact information of all operators that collect or maintain childrens personal information, as well as information concerning what if any third party organization can get this information and how they will use and protect this information. Also in this link there needs to be information on what information is gathered, why it is gathered and that parents have the right to view and delete their child's information from the website.

The websites that need to follow this are any websites that could attract a young person's attention including any website with animation or cartoon characters or even models displayed on the page.

Significance

The significance of this act is that before it was initiated young children could have had contact information gathered from them and used legally. Now parents are in control and have veto power over the information that there children give out and who can recieve this information. This act has been advanced to the point that some websites and downloads are unavailable to children under the age of 13. And for some websites if a child under 13 tries to create an account a request email will be sent to a parent who then can choose if the website is appropriate.