Lindsey Tonsager writes:
The FTC has decided not to pursue an enforcement action against Clearwater Aquarium for alleged violations of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection (“COPPA”) Rule.
In February 2012, the Children’s Advertising Review Unit (“CARU”) referred the Clearwater Aquarium’s website to the FTC for review under COPPA after the Aquarium reportedly did not respond to CARU’s inquiry. CARU claimed that the site featured a “Kidzone” where visitors could sign up for an e-newsletter by entering their first and last names, mailing and email addresses, and cellphone numbers. CARU was concerned that the Aquarium collected personally identifiable information from children under the age of thirteen without first obtaining parental consent and that the Aquarium’s privacy policy — which stated that it did not collect information from children under 18 without parental consent — did not accurately reflect its actual privacy practices.
Read more on Covington & Burling InsidePrivacy.