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Path was quick to mend its ways after a dust-up over collecting contact information from iOS users without their consent, but it wasn't quick enough to avoid FTC claims of violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. All that is just water under the bridge in the wake of a new settlement. As compensation for collecting contact information from 3,000 children without their parents' permission, Path has agreed to both pay a $800,000 fee and implement a privacy plan that will require audits from an outside party every other year. Consider it a lesson learned for Path and other mobile app firms, which now know that scraping personal data may have unintended consequences.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Via: TechCrunch, The Next Web
Source: FTC
The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (or COPPA) was first introduced back in 1998, but you don't have to look very far to realize the internet has changed quite a bit since then. Today, the FTC is attempting to address some of those changes by introducing the first major revision to the act. Among the biggest changes is that operators of websites or online services will now have to seek permission directly from parents in order to collect information from anyone under the age of 13 when they have "actual knowledge that they are collecting personal information through a child-directed website or online service."
In another change related to that, the FTC has also clarified that "personal information" now includes geolocation data in addition to photos and videos, and it says it has closed a loophole that allowed apps and websites to collection information through plug-ins. The agency will not, however, hold companies like Apple and Google liable for apps from other companies which attempt to collection information from children, and it will permit "contextual advertising" to children without the need for parental consent. You can find the FTC's full announcement of the changes after the break.
Filed under: Internet
Via: The Washington Post
Source: FTC, FTC Business Center Blog