Washington (December 20, 2023) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), author of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, released the following statement after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a proposed update to its COPPA Rule, which protects children’s privacy online:

“This proposed update to the COPPA Rule is critical to modernizing online privacy protections for children and addressing Big Tech’s new tactics that exploit, track, and target kids online. This reform could not come at a more important time. Experts, parents, and young people all agree that kids are being victimized by Big Tech’s voracious appetite for data. We commend the FTC for issuing this proposed rule and look forward to working to continue protecting young people’s privacy online.

“This latest effort should not be considered a replacement for congressional action. COPPA is now 25 years old and must be modernized to meet the privacy challenges of today, including by extending COPPA’s protections to teenagers and banning targeted advertising to kids and teens. We must quickly pass our Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA 2.0, to enact these essential rules and prioritize the well-being of our children. Inaction is not an option.”

As author of the landmark 1998 Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, Senator Markey has long championed protections for children and teens online. In May, Senators Markey and Cassidy reintroduced the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0), legislation that would update online data privacy rules for the 21st century to ensure children and teenagers are protected online. In July, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee unanimously passed COPPA 2.0.

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