What Is the Coppa Law on Youtube

The changes are designed to make YouTube a safer place for kids. The big problem is that no one knows exactly what “kid-friendly content” means, and producers and creators are worried about facing thousands of dollars in fines or other penalties, depending on how the rules are interpreted. Other observers warn that the rules will have a chilling effect on YouTube content for Tykes — and even on videos aimed at an older audience if it`s popular with kids. Here is an explanation of the situation. This comparison provision has raised questions among content creators about how to determine whether what they upload to YouTube or other platforms is “aimed at children.” The response requires a brief summary of some important provisions of COPPA. The Children`s Online Privacy Protection Act was passed by Congress in 1998 and is a federal law that protects the privacy of children under the age of 13. The basic principle of COPPA is one that most people can agree on: parents – not children, businesses, platforms, or content creators – should have control over what information is collected from children online. The COPPA rule defines “personal information” to include obvious things like a child`s first and last name or home address, but that`s not all. Under COPPA, personal data also includes so-called persistent identifiers – a behind-the-scenes code that recognizes a user over time and across different websites or online services. This can be an IP address or a cookie when used to deliver targeted advertising. Keep in mind that an operator may also collect personal information through an open comment box on its website or service that allows a user under the age of 13 to make the personal information publicly available. For example, imagine a comment like this on a children`s website: My name is Mary Jones from Springfield. I love this video! Examples of what can be done for children include: -No Coppa that would require massive changes in the law or move Youtube to another country.

-No ads are one of the main sources of revenue for YouTube, so it`s impossible -Don`t need the internet, it`s just magical now because it`s literally impossible. I`m 43 years old and should be able to add to my playlist FTC Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter noted in dissenting remarks that many children-directed channels on YouTube are operated by owners outside the U.S., which may be outside COPPA`s jurisdiction and the FTC`s “practical reach.” [16] The FTC published a blog post on November 22, 2019 to clarify what it considered “done for children” and that several factors are used to make this decision, and that it recognized that certain types of content, such as animated programs, could appeal to all ages and would not be immediately subject to COPPA requirements. The FTC also referred the authors to their original complaint against YouTube, identifying the channels and video content that they believed were under COPPA that formed the basis of their case. [17] Disney and ViacomCBS have armies of lawyers to meet YouTube`s new requirements. But even for them, Dunstan says, there are gray areas as to whether the content is child-centered according to the FTC`s definition: “That`ll be all a bureaucrat decides in retrospect.” Under COPPA, there`s no single answer to what a website does for kids, but we can give some tips. To be clear, your content is not considered “aimed at children” simply because some children may see it. However, if your target audience is children under the age of 13, you are covered by COPPA and must meet the requirements of the rule. __#9 If I set my content to be aimed at children, what does that mean for my channel? __ Websites and online services abroad must comply with COPPA if they are directed to children in the United States or if they knowingly collect personal information from children in the United States. The law`s definition of “operator” includes foreign-based websites and online services involved in commerce in the United States or its territories. In this context, U.S.-based websites and services that collect information from foreign children are also subject to COPPA. See COPPA FAQS B.7. www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/complying-coppa-frequently-asked-questions Below are some guides on what is considered “made for children”, but we cannot provide legal advice.

If you are not sure if your videos meet this standard, we recommend that you consult a lawyer. My content is for kids and it`s stupid because I can`t download videos now. So pls corrects that, I don`t know why.. .