A significant number of federal legislative proposals that focus on online child safety have been introduced. If enacted, they would modify online providers’ obligations to remove and report child sexual exploitation (CSE)...more
In his State of the Union address on February 7, 2023, President Biden affirmed his position on consumer data privacy protections and specifically his focus on strengthening protections for children. With several state data...more
CSPI to FDA: Move to the Front! Watchdog barks at industry efforts to highlight nutrition facts - Gesundheit FOPNL. It’s sweeping the globe. What is it, you ask? A new government agency? An awful skin condition? A...more
There is a federal law, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), that requires app developers to obtain parental consent before collecting information from children under the age of 13. The law has been on the...more
While smart toys can certainly be useful educational tools for children, they also present some potential privacy risks and could invade what is traditionally a private space. Think about it—the thought of your child’s toy...more
Since 2015, the advent of smart and internet-connected toys has, according to some practitioners, transformed this age from that of the “Internet of Things” to the “Internet of Toys.” The potential unlawful surveillance and...more
On July 22, 2020, the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") issued revised FAQs regarding the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act and the FTC Rule issued thereunder (together "COPPA"). The COPPA FAQs provide practical...more
Morgan Stanley shook the financial world yesterday with the announcement that it’s planning to drop $13 billion on a deal to purchase online discount brokerage E-Trade—the “biggest takeover by a major American lender since...more
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) sent shockwaves through the video game industry this week when he formally announced that he intends on introducing new legislation that would regulate the use of loot boxes and “pay-to-win”...more
Last week, two Senators, Senator Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts and Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regarding apps designed for children and whether they are in...more
On January 8, 2018, the FTC announced that VTech, maker of electronic toys for children, agreed to settle charges that it violated the law by collecting personal information without parental consent....more
The Federal Trade Commission on Jan. 8 announced its first settlement of alleged violations of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act arising from internet-connected toys. The FTC complaint against VTech followed the...more
Every year, especially around the holidays, more and more products that connect to the internet hit the market. For adults, connected home devices that act like personal domestic assistants have become increasingly popular....more
In August 2017, Disney and three of its software developer vendors were sued in a class action in California in which it was alleged that Disney collected children’s information in violation of the Children's Online Privacy...more
As connected devices become ubiquitous, it comes as no surprise that interactive toys that connect to the internet are more popular than ever. At the same time, regulators have taken note of the privacy and security concerns...more
Sen. Franken Hits Pause on Pokémon GO - After the Pokémon GO app was downloaded approximately 7.5 million times in the United States alone in its first week of release, Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), the chairman of the...more
The COPPA Rule requires website and online service operators to give notice to parents and obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting children’s “personal information” online. 16 CFR §§ 312.4, 312.5. The...more
Like all businesses, manufacturers and retailers of children's products must comply with advertising laws and regulations. Advertising laws protect consumers by requiring advertisers to be truthful about their products....more
In a third update to the data breach of 6.5 million kids’ information and 5 million parents’ information, VTech Holdings Ltd. (VTech) is facing backlash from plaintiffs’ attorneys and regulators....more
Google made good on the rumors and the company’s subsequent promise last December to create a family-friendly version of its popular YouTube service with its launch on Monday of the YouTube Kids app. Available on both the App...more
California Governor Jerry Brown recently signed into law S.B. 568, the first bill of its kind in the nation. S.B. 568 enacts two new statutes under the title “Privacy Rights for California Minors in the Digital World.” The...more