Conclusion
The intentions behind COPPA are commendable, but the implementation has not been effective as the primary means to protect the privacy of children. The mechanisms set in place by COPPA do not help the public to understand the importance of privacy. Because implementations of COPPA are interpreted through the lens of safety, parents and children are unaware of how their decisions affect the use or misuse of their data. We believe that the Congress and the US FTC have an opportunity to amend COPPA so as to do much more to protect the privacy of our children in an online era in ways that will be effective. Data about children’s online data usage, and the practices of their parents, can point the way.
We appreciate the Subcommittee’s willingness to accept feedback from researchers and hope that our short statement sheds light on how the current implementation of COPPA is interpreted by the public.
Kyle Pace on 30 Apr 12Welcome to the Google+ Safety Center Social experiences require multiple players and so does safety. We all need to do our part. These resources are here for teens, parents, and teachers to learn more about how to use Google+ in a fun, smart, and safe way. We're glad you are here!
