Online privacy regulations for kids take effect

{mosads}“At the FTC, protecting children’s privacy is a top priority,” FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez said in a statement. “The updated COPPA rule helps put parents in charge of their children’s personal information as it keeps pace with changing technologies.”

The rules apply to sites and apps directed at children, such as a Disney princess website, as well as sites where children disclose their age, such as Facebook. 

The FTC rejected pleas from business groups to delay the implementation of the updated rules. The groups argued that they needed more time to make sure they were in compliance, but the FTC concluded that the groups had plenty of time to review and comply with the new regulations. 

The FTC on Monday approved five “safe harbor” programs for the new regulations. Companies that participate in the safe harbor programs, which are managed by private groups, are generally subject to the review and disciplinary procedures of the program instead of FTC enforcement. 

The agency also released new education materials on Monday to help businesses and parents understand the rules.