Congressman is House author of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and co-Chairman of the Bi-Partisan Privacy Caucus, released the following statement today in reaction to the announcement by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) of a settlement with a social networking website regarding violations of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the FTC’s COPPA Rule.

“As the House author of COPPA, I am pleased that the Commission pursued and brought charges against a social networking website that was collecting personal information about children under 13 without parental permission in violation of COPPA. Since COPPA was signed into law in 1998, children increasingly use the Internet to connect with each other and with entertainment and educational opportunities that did not exist when the law was enacted. Earlier this year, I introduced the ‘Do Not Track Kids Act’ with Congressman Joe Barton to bring COPPA up to date and add additional safeguards for teens. I look forward to working with my colleagues to move forward our bipartisan bill so that we can provide strong protections for children and teens in this new online environment.”

In May, Reps. Markey and Joe Barton (R-Texas) introduced the “Do Not Track Kids Act of 2011”, legislation that amends COPPA to extend, enhance and update the provisions relating to the collection, use and disclosure of children’s personal information. The legislation also establishes new protections for the personal information of children and teens.

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