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 The Do Not Track Kids Act of 2013, introduced in
both the House and Senate in November, would amend the Children's
Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) of 1998, and apply
prohibitions against the collection of personal information from
children and young teens to online and mobile applications. It would
also establish additional protections against the collection of
geo-location information.
“Children and teens are visiting numerous companies' websites, and
marketers are using multimedia games, online quizzes, and mobile
phone and tablet applications to create ties to children and teens,”
the bill reads.
The legislation defines youngsters under 16 as minors. If passed,
the bill would prohibit website and mobile application operators
from using or providing the personal information of children and
young teens to third parties without verifiable consent from a
parent, or from the minor if he or she is between 13 and 15.
It would also prohibit website and mobile application operators from
compiling information for targeted marketing purposes without
consent.
Children and minors would also be ensured the option to delete
personal content they post online when technologically feasible, an
"eraser button," among other protections.
The bill was introduced by Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Rep. Joe
Barton, R-Tex.
“Sen. Markey is very committed to moving it forward, and he is
continuing to gather co-sponsors on the Senate side,” said Giselle
Barry, spokesperson for Markey. “It updates COPPA for the 21st
century.”
The Senate version of the bill was referred to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the House version to the
Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. (The Senate version
is here: http://1.usa.gov/Sh467R; the House version is here:
http://1.usa.gov/1lGWQMP.) So far, 33 representatives and two
senators have co-sponsored the legislation.
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“Many parents are unaware that their kids’ Internet activities
are being monitored by websites and sold to advertisers,” said Sen.
Mark Kirk, R-Ill., in a press release in support of the bill. “Our
common-sense, bipartisan bill is about returning privacy to children
and giving parents a tool to control the information gathered about
their children online.”
In a statement, Sean Brown, communications director for Barton,
said the bill is one of Barton’s top priorities. “He is having
meetings with members on both sides of the aisle as well as
leadership on the Energy and Commerce Committee in an effort to get
a hearing and a vote. So far no timetable has been set, but Mr.
Barton will continue to push for this very important legislation,”
Brown said.
According to a 2012 report from Pew Research Center’s Internet &
American Life Project, 81 percent of parents of online teens said
they were concerned about how much information advertisers could
learn about their child's online behavior; 69 percent said they
worried about the impact of their child's online activity on their
future academic and job prospects. (The report is available here:
http://pewrsr.ch/1m9yBcA). Findings from the report were included in
the bill.
“This bill would be a major step forward for kids, teens and
families across the country. Period,” said Jim Steyer, founder and
C.E.O. of Common Sense Media, a non-profit focusing on the effects
of media and technology. “The ‘eraser button’ would give kids and
teens the right to erase stuff that’s inappropriate. Young people
often times self-reveal before they self-reflect.”
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