The Basics
Sept 13, 2007 18:32:14 GMT
Post by Patrick [ASE] on Sept 13, 2007 18:32:14 GMT
Link to COPPA for reference
www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buspubs/coppa.shtm
So why do sites like Proboards restrict the age to 13+ ?
It's not just a rule that was added to TOS, but based on law, proboards have to include it.
According to COPPA, it's all about information that is 'personally identifiable' to the member.
Proboards are not permitted by law to collect that information and store it on their servers
When you read through the rest of the page, it says that companies can collect such information with ' verifiable parental consent'
So why don't Proboards do this ?
It would be a logistical nightmare, not only to make sure that the permissions have been received, but to check if they are valid.
Some have said about the board admins doing it for themselves, but how can Proboards trust every admin to be honest.
There would also be the issue of forging the permissions.
So to be safe, Proboards has introduced Birthdate information
So, as far as admins are concerned, all members are 13 or over.
But what must you do if a member is later found to be under 13 ?
You must delete their account, because from the moment a member is found to be underage, it puts your board in violation, and Proboards will deal with it if you don't, that can mean deletion of the board.
Boards deleted for knowingly allowing/encouraging underage members, will not be restored.
So what's the problem with storing that info ?
You never know who will have access to it, so to protect children from harm, the law was put in place.
www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buspubs/coppa.shtm
So why do sites like Proboards restrict the age to 13+ ?
It's not just a rule that was added to TOS, but based on law, proboards have to include it.
According to COPPA, it's all about information that is 'personally identifiable' to the member.
Proboards are not permitted by law to collect that information and store it on their servers
The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act and Rule apply to individually identifiable information about a child that is collected online, such as full name, home address, email address, telephone number or any other information that would allow someone to identify or contact the child. The Act and Rule also cover other types of information -- for example, hobbies, interests and information collected through cookies or other types of tracking mechanisms -- when they are tied to individually identifiable information.
When you read through the rest of the page, it says that companies can collect such information with ' verifiable parental consent'
Before collecting, using or disclosing personal information from a child, an operator must obtain verifiable parental consent from the child's parent. This means an operator must make reasonable efforts (taking into consideration available technology) to ensure that before personal information is collected from a child, a parent of the child receives notice of the operator's information practices and consents to those practices.
So why don't Proboards do this ?
It would be a logistical nightmare, not only to make sure that the permissions have been received, but to check if they are valid.
Some have said about the board admins doing it for themselves, but how can Proboards trust every admin to be honest.
There would also be the issue of forging the permissions.
So to be safe, Proboards has introduced Birthdate information
So, as far as admins are concerned, all members are 13 or over.
But what must you do if a member is later found to be under 13 ?
You must delete their account, because from the moment a member is found to be underage, it puts your board in violation, and Proboards will deal with it if you don't, that can mean deletion of the board.
Boards deleted for knowingly allowing/encouraging underage members, will not be restored.
So what's the problem with storing that info ?
You never know who will have access to it, so to protect children from harm, the law was put in place.