COPPA
U.S. regulation protecting children under 13 online privacy
Australian Privacy Act
Australian federal law regulating personal information handling
Quick Verdict
COPPA mandates parental consent for kids' online data in US apps, while Australian Privacy Act requires reasonable security for all personal info economy-wide. Companies adopt COPPA for child compliance, Privacy Act for broad Australian operations avoiding massive fines.
COPPA
Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
Key Features
- Verifiable parental consent required before data collection
- Strict under-13 age threshold for child protection
- Broad personal information definition including persistent IDs
- High penalties up to $43,792 per violation
- Multiple approved parental consent verification methods
Australian Privacy Act
Privacy Act 1988 (Cth)
Key Features
- 13 Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) for data lifecycle
- Notifiable Data Breaches scheme with serious harm notifications
- APP 11 reasonable steps for security and retention
- APP 8 accountability for cross-border disclosures
- OAIC enforcement with civil penalties up to AU$50M
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
COPPA Details
What It Is
Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) is a U.S. federal regulation enacted in 1998, effective 2000. It safeguards children under 13 from unauthorized personal data collection by commercial websites, apps, and services. Administered by the FTC, it mandates parental control via verifiable consent before collection, use, or disclosure, with 2013 amendments expanding scope to modern tracking.
Key Components
- Verifiable parental consent (VPC) via 11+ methods (e.g., credit card, video call)
- Comprehensive privacy notices and data security requirements
- Parental rights to access, review, delete data, and revoke consent
- Broad PII definition: names, persistent IDs, geolocation, audio/video files
- Data minimization, limited retention, no conditioning on data provision FTC-approved safe harbors for self-regulation.
Why Organizations Use It
Ensures legal compliance amid FTC enforcement and fines up to $43,792 per violation (e.g., YouTube's $170M). Mitigates risks from edtech, gaming, IoT; builds parental/stakeholder trust; avoids reputation damage; extraterritorial for U.S.-targeted services.
Implementation Overview
Conduct audience analysis for child-direction; post policies; deploy VPC mechanisms, age screens; secure data; enable parental tools. Applies to operators globally targeting U.S. children; suitable all sizes but burdensome for small firms. No formal certification; relies on FTC audits, safe harbors like ESRB.
Australian Privacy Act Details
What It Is
The Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) is Australia's foundational federal privacy regulation. It regulates handling of personal information by government agencies and private sector organizations exceeding AU$3 million turnover, plus targeted small businesses. Employing a principles-based, risk-calibrated approach, it mandates reasonable steps for protection, scaled by context, sensitivity, and entity size.
Key Components
- 13 Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) spanning collection, use/disclosure, security (APP 11), cross-border (APP 8), and rights.
- Notifiable Data Breaches (NDB) scheme requiring notifications for serious harm incidents.
- OAIC oversight with investigations, audits, and penalties up to AU$50M or 30% turnover. No formal certification; compliance via governance and evidence.
Why Organizations Use It
- Mandatory compliance for in-scope entities averts severe penalties.
- Manages breach/reputational risks, enables transborder flows.
- Builds stakeholder trust, supports cyber resilience and market access.
Implementation Overview
Phased: discovery/gaps, policy/controls design, build/deploy, incident readiness, ongoing audits. Applies economy-wide; scalable for size/industry. OAIC assessments validate adherence.
Key Differences
| Aspect | COPPA | Australian Privacy Act |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Children under 13 online data collection | All personal information lifecycle broadly |
| Industry | Commercial websites/apps targeting kids, US/global | Most sectors over $3M turnover, Australia-linked |
| Nature | Mandatory US federal law, FTC enforced | Mandatory principles-based, OAIC enforced |
| Testing | Safe harbor audits, parental consent verification | Self-assessments, PIAs, OAIC audits |
| Penalties | $43,792 per violation, FTC fines | Up to $50M or 30% turnover, civil penalties |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about COPPA and Australian Privacy Act
COPPA FAQ
Australian Privacy Act FAQ
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