A federal law, the Children's Online
Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), was created to help protect kids
online. It's designed to keep anyone from obtaining a child's
personal information without a parent knowing about it and
agreeing to it first.
COPPA requires websites to explain their
privacy policies on the site and get parental consent before
collecting or using a child's personal information, such as a
name, address, phone number, or Social Security number. The law
also prohibits a site from requiring a child to provide more
personal information than necessary to play a game or participate
in a contest.
Call the National Center for Missing and
Exploited Children at (800) 843-5678 if you're aware of the
transmission, use, or viewing of child pornography online. Contact
your local law enforcement agency or the FBI if your child has
received child pornography via the Internet.
But even with this law,
your kids' best online protection is
you. By talking to them about
potential online dangers and monitoring their computer use, you'll
help them surf the Internet safely.
Additonal information:
A Guide for Parents, Carers and Educators