The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced a new policy statement regarding the enforcement of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule (COPPA Rule). This statement indicates that the FTC will not take enforcement action against certain website and online service operators that collect personal information solely for the purpose of determining a user’s age through age verification technologies.

The COPPA Rule mandates that operators of commercial websites or online services aimed at children under 13 must provide notice of their information practices to parents and obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting personal information from children. With the rise of internet-connected technologies used by children, age verification technologies have become essential for parents monitoring their children's online activities.

Some states have begun requiring websites to implement age verification mechanisms, but concerns have arisen regarding the potential violation of the COPPA Rule if these technologies necessitate the collection of personal information from children. The FTC's policy statement aims to clarify that operators can use age verification technologies without facing enforcement actions, provided they meet specific conditions.

These conditions include not using the collected information for any purpose other than age verification, deleting the information promptly after use, ensuring confidentiality and security when sharing information with third parties, and providing clear notices to parents and children about the data collected. The FTC emphasizes the importance of these technologies in protecting children online, with the Bureau of Consumer Protection's Director, Christopher Mufarrige, highlighting their child-protective potential.

The policy statement will remain in effect until the FTC publishes final rule amendments regarding age verification mechanisms in the Federal Register or withdraws the statement. The Commission voted 2-0 to issue this policy statement, with Manmeet Dhindsa leading the initiative from the Bureau of Consumer Protection.