WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Edward Markey (D-MA) released the following joint statement after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a proposed update to its Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) Rule, which protects children’s privacy online:
“This proposed update to the COPPA Rule is critical to modernizing online privacy protections for children and addressing Big Tech’s new tactics that exploit, track, and target kids online. This reform could not come at a more important time. Experts, parents, and young people all agree that kids are being victimized by Big Tech’s voracious appetite for data. We commend the FTC for issuing this proposed rule and look forward to working to continue protecting young people’s privacy online.
“This latest effort should not be considered a replacement for congressional action. COPPA is now 25 years old and must be modernized to meet the privacy challenges of today, including by extending COPPA’s protections to teenagers and banning targeted advertising to kids and teens. We must quickly pass our Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA 2.0, to enact these essential rules and prioritize the well-being of our children. Inaction is not an option.”
In 1998, Congress passed the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which instituted basic privacy protections, including notice and parental consent requirements that protect users under 13 years old. While COPPA took major steps towards safeguarding children’s personal information on the internet, the law is overdue for an update in light of major changes in the online landscape. In May, Cassidyreintroduced the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0), legislation that would update online data privacy rules for the 21st century to ensure children and teenagers are protected online. In July, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee unanimously passed COPPA 2.0.
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