CE Marking
EU conformity marking for harmonised product legislation compliance
COPPA
U.S. federal regulation protecting children's online privacy under 13.
Quick Verdict
CE Marking ensures EEA product safety via manufacturer declarations, while COPPA mandates parental consent for US children's online data. Companies adopt CE for market access, COPPA to avoid massive FTC fines and protect minors.
CE Marking
CE Marking (Conformité Européenne)
Key Features
- Manufacturer declares conformity to EU essential requirements
- Enables free product movement across EEA markets
- OJEU harmonised standards grant presumption of conformity
- Risk-proportionate conformity assessment modules A-H
- Mandates 10-year technical documentation retention
COPPA
Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
Key Features
- Requires verifiable parental consent before kids' data collection
- Protects children under 13 from online personal info collection
- Broad PII definition includes geolocation, device IDs, multimedia
- FTC enforcement with $43,792 penalties per violation
- Mandates privacy policies, data security, parental access rights
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
CE Marking Details
What It Is
CE Marking (Conformité Européenne) is the EU's mandatory conformity marking for products under harmonised legislation like the New Legislative Framework (NLF). It signifies the manufacturer's declaration that products meet essential health, safety, and environmental requirements, enabling free EEA market circulation. The approach is risk-proportionate, using self-assessment or notified body verification.
Key Components
- Identification of applicable directives (e.g., LVD, Machinery, RED)
- Conformity assessment modules (A-H)
- Technical documentation and EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC)
- Harmonised standards for presumption of conformity Self-declaration for low-risk; notified body certification for high-risk; 10-year retention.
Why Organizations Use It
Mandated for market access; mitigates legal risks, fines, recalls; builds stakeholder trust; leverages standards for efficiency; supports single-market scale and competition.
Implementation Overview
Map legislation, conduct risk assessment, compile technical file, issue DoC, affix mark. Applies to manufacturers/importers in EEA-impacted industries; varies by product risk; no central certification but audit-ready evidence required.
COPPA Details
What It Is
Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) is a U.S. federal regulation enacted in 1998, effective 2000. Administered by the FTC, it safeguards children under 13 from unauthorized online personal data collection by commercial websites, apps, and services directed to kids or with actual knowledge of users' age. Core approach mandates verifiable parental consent (VPC) before collection, use, or disclosure, with a risk-based sliding scale for consent methods.
Key Components
- VPC mechanisms (e.g., credit card, video call; 11+ methods)
- Comprehensive privacy policies and notices
- Expansive personal information definition (names, geolocation, device IDs, audio/video)
- Parental rights to access, review, delete data
- Data minimization, security, no-conditioning rules Enforced via FTC under unfair practices; safe harbor programs for compliance.
Why Organizations Use It
- Avoids steep fines ($43,792/violation; e.g., YouTube $170M)
- Meets legal obligations for child-directed services
- Enhances parental trust, reputation
- Mitigates enforcement risks in edtech, gaming
- Global applicability for U.S.-targeted operations
Implementation Overview
- Analyze audience for child-direction; deploy age gates
- Integrate VPC, policies, secure data handling
- Applies to all commercial operators globally targeting U.S. kids
- No formal certification; self-compliance or safe harbors (e.g., ESRB) Typical for apps/sites: policy drafting, tech updates, audits. (178 words)
Key Differences
| Aspect | CE Marking | COPPA |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Product safety, health, environmental compliance | Children's online personal data privacy |
| Industry | Manufacturing, hardware across EEA | Online services, apps targeting US children |
| Nature | Mandatory manufacturer self-declaration | Mandatory FTC-enforced regulation |
| Testing | Conformity assessment, notified bodies | Parental consent verification, audits |
| Penalties | Market withdrawal, national fines | $43,792 per violation, FTC fines |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about CE Marking and COPPA
CE Marking FAQ
COPPA FAQ
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