What’s COPPA? When you hear this term, you’re encountering one of the most important privacy regulations affecting how businesses interact with children online. On June 23, 2025, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) implemented a Final Rule updating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), with significant implications for websites, apps, and AI technologies that collect data from children.
In today’s digital landscape, understanding the meaning of COPPA and ensuring compliance has become essential for businesses. The COPPA Act enforces strict consent requirements before collecting personal information from children, with violations carrying hefty penalties. For example, Epic Games agreed to pay a $275 million penalty for COPPA violations in 2022—the largest fine to date. Recent updates to COPPA have expanded the definition of “personal information” to include biometric identifiers like voiceprints and facial templates, while also prohibiting the indefinite retention of children’s data. This change comes as nearly three in four teens report using AI chatbots, with one in three feeling discomfort with AI-generated content.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain what COPPA means, who must comply with it, and how recent updates affect businesses—especially those using AI technologies. We’ll also provide practical steps to help you navigate these regulations and avoid costly violations.
What does COPPA mean and who does it apply to?
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The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) stands as a cornerstone federal law that safeguards the personal information of children online. Designed specifically to protect those under 13, this legislation creates a framework of requirements for websites and online services collecting data from young users.
Origins of the COPPA Act
COPPA emerged during the late 1990s when internet usage began expanding rapidly among children. In 1996, the Center for Media Education petitioned the Federal Trade Commission to investigate KidsCom, one of the internet’s first child-focused websites. The site had been collecting data through registration forms, contests, and pen-pal programs without proper disclosure. Following this investigation, the FTC presented its Privacy Online Report to Congress in June 1998, documenting concerning practices in online collection of children’s personal information. Congress acted swiftly, passing COPPA in October 1998, with the law officially taking effect on April 21, 2000. Since then, the FTC has updated the regulations to address evolving technologies, with significant amendments in 2013 and again in 2025.
Who needs to comply with COPPA regulations?
COPPA’s reach extends to several categories of online operators:
- Commercial websites and online services directed to children under 13 that collect personal information
- General audience websites with actual knowledge they collect information from users under 13
- Third-party services (like ad networks and plugins) with actual knowledge they collect information from child-directed sites
- Mobile applications, internet-enabled gaming platforms, connected toys, smart speakers, and location-based services
Notably, most non-profit organizations engaged in non-commercial activities are exempt from COPPA requirements. Nevertheless, international operators must comply if they target U.S. children, regardless of where they’re based.
What does COPPA mean for online services?
For covered operators, COPPA imposes significant obligations. Fundamentally, they must provide clear privacy notices and obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting, using, or disclosing children’s personal information. Additionally, they cannot condition a child’s participation in activities on providing more information than reasonably necessary.
Personal information under COPPA encompasses traditional identifiers like names and addresses, furthermore includes persistent identifiers, photos, videos, audio recordings containing a child’s image or voice, and geolocation information. Operators must maintain reasonable procedures to protect the confidentiality, security, and integrity of this information.
Violations can result in substantial penalties—up to $51,744 per violation as of 2025, making COPPA compliance a serious business consideration for any service that might attract young users.
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Key rules and requirements under COPPA
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COPPA establishes stringent regulations governing how operators handle children’s data online. These requirements form the backbone of the COPPA Act and define what COPPA compliance means in practice.
Parental consent and how it must be obtained
Operators must secure verifiable parental consent before collecting, using, or disclosing personal information from children under 13. Moreover, parents must have the option to consent to internal data use without third-party sharing. The FTC has approved several verification methods including knowledge-based authentication through difficult multiple-choice questions, government-issued photo ID submission with facial matching, and text messaging with additional verification steps.
What counts as personal information under COPPA
COPPA broadly defines personal information beyond traditional identifiers. This encompasses names, addresses, and contact details, as well as persistent identifiers like cookies and IP addresses. The 2025 updates expanded this definition to include biometric identifiers such as fingerprints, retina patterns, facial templates, and genetic data.
Privacy policy and notice requirements
Each operator must maintain a clearly labeled, comprehensive privacy policy detailing their data practices. This policy must identify all operators collecting information, explain collection methods and usage purposes, and outline parental rights. Additionally, direct notice to parents must specify how information will be used and identify third-party recipients.
Data minimization and retention rules
Under COPPA regulations, operators may only retain children’s data for as long as reasonably necessary for the specific purpose collected. Consequently, indefinite retention is expressly prohibited. All operators must establish a written retention policy stating the purpose for collection, business need, and deletion timeframe.
Security obligations for child data
Operators must implement reasonable procedures to protect children’s data. The 2025 amendments require a written security program with safeguards tailored to data sensitivity and appropriate to the operator’s size and complexity. This program must designate responsible personnel, include regular risk assessments, and undergo annual review.
Recent updates to COPPA and their impact
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The Federal Trade Commission recently unveiled significant modifications to the COPPA Act, effective June 23, 2025, introducing substantial changes to child privacy protection online.
New rules on biometric data and AI training
Importantly, the updated COPPA regulations now require explicit parental consent before using children’s personal information to train artificial intelligence technologies. This requirement acknowledges the growing use of children’s data in developing sophisticated AI systems, thereby enhancing COPPA compliance standards.
Expanded definition of personal information
The definition of personal information has been broadened to include biometric identifiers that can be used for automated or semi-automated recognition. This encompasses fingerprints, voiceprints, retina patterns, iris scans, genetic data, facial templates, along with government-issued identifiers like passport numbers.
Retention policy and deletion requirements
Under the revised rules, operators must maintain a written data retention policy explaining the purposes for collecting children’s information, the business need, plus a timeframe for deletion. According to the updated regulations, personal information collected from children cannot be retained indefinitely.
Changes in how consent can be verified
The COPPA meaning has evolved through three additional verification methods: knowledge-based authentication using sophisticated multiple-choice questions; facial recognition technology with government photo ID; and text-plus verification combining text messages with confirmatory steps. Essentially, these changes reflect COPPA’s adaptation to evolving digital landscape concerns.
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How to stay COPPA compliant
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Navigating the complex landscape of COPPA compliance requires systematic implementation of best practices. Businesses must understand what does COPPA mean for their specific operations.
Steps to assess if COPPA applies to your service
First, determine if your website or online service collects personal information from children under 13, either knowingly or if you operate content directed at children. This includes mobile apps, IoT devices, and smart toys that gather data from young users.
Creating a compliant privacy policy
Your privacy policy must be prominently displayed and clearly written. It should list all operators collecting information, describe data collection practices, explain how information is used, and outline parental rights. Indeed, policies must be posted both on your homepage and wherever you collect children’s information.
Monitoring third-party partners
Organizations remain responsible for third parties collecting data through their services. Therefore, contractually require vendors to maintain COPPA compliance and regularly audit their practices.
Using Safe Harbor programs
Consider joining FTC-approved Safe Harbor programs like CARU or TRUSTe. These organizations provide ongoing compliance support, guidance through regulatory changes, and some protection from enforcement actions.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Collecting more information than necessary for activities
- Retaining children’s data longer than required
- Failing to implement proper consent verification
- Inadequate security measures for children’s information
Conclusion
COPPA stands as a critical safeguard for children’s privacy in our digital world. Throughout this article, we’ve seen how this landmark legislation protects those under 13 by setting strict rules for data collection and usage. Undoubtedly, the 2025 updates significantly expand these protections, particularly regarding biometric data and AI training.
Businesses must recognize that COPPA compliance goes beyond simple checkbox exercises. Instead, it requires comprehensive strategies including proper consent mechanisms, robust privacy policies, and structured data retention practices. Additionally, companies must carefully monitor third-party vendors who might access children’s information through their platforms.
The stakes remain exceptionally high—penalties can reach $51,744 per violation. Epic Games learned this lesson the hard way with their record $275 million fine. Therefore, staying current with COPPA regulations protects both children and your business interests.
Child privacy protection continues evolving alongside technological advancements. Consequently, organizations collecting data from young users must develop flexible compliance frameworks that adapt to regulatory changes. Whether your website directly targets children or inadvertently attracts them, understanding COPPA’s requirements helps create safer online spaces while avoiding costly enforcement actions.
Ultimately, COPPA enforcement reflects our societal commitment to protecting our most vulnerable online users. Though compliance might seem challenging, numerous resources exist to help navigate these requirements, including FTC guidance and Safe Harbor programs. Your investment in proper child privacy protocols not only meets legal obligations but also builds trust with families who value their children’s digital safety.
FAQs
Q1. What is COPPA and who does it protect? COPPA, or the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, is a federal law that safeguards the online privacy of children under 13 years old. It applies to commercial websites, apps, and online services that collect personal information from young users.
Q2. What are the key requirements for COPPA compliance? COPPA compliance involves obtaining verifiable parental consent before collecting children’s data, maintaining a clear privacy policy, implementing data minimization and retention rules, and ensuring proper security measures for children’s information.
Q3. How has COPPA been updated recently? Recent updates to COPPA include new rules on biometric data and AI training, an expanded definition of personal information, stricter data retention policies, and additional methods for verifying parental consent.
Q4. What are the consequences of violating COPPA? Violations of COPPA can result in substantial penalties, with fines reaching up to $51,744 per violation as of 2025. For instance, Epic Games was fined $275 million in 2022 for COPPA violations.
Q5. How can businesses ensure they are COPPA compliant? To stay COPPA compliant, businesses should assess if the law applies to their services, create a compliant privacy policy, monitor third-party partners, consider joining Safe Harbor programs, and avoid common mistakes like collecting unnecessary information or retaining data longer than required.
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