Standards Comparison

    COPPA

    Mandatory
    1998

    U.S. regulation requiring parental consent for child online data collection.

    VS

    BREEAM

    Voluntary
    1990

    Global sustainability certification for built environment.

    Quick Verdict

    COPPA mandates parental consent for children's online data collection, protecting kids under 13 from commercial trackers. BREEAM certifies sustainable buildings via credits in energy, health, ecology. Companies adopt COPPA for legal compliance amid heavy fines; BREEAM for ESG value, asset premiums.

    Children Privacy

    COPPA

    Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)

    Cost
    €€€€
    Complexity
    High
    Implementation Time
    6-12 months

    Key Features

    • Mandates verifiable parental consent prior to child data collection.
    • Defines broad personal information including persistent IDs and geolocation.
    • Targets operators of child-directed websites, apps, and IoT devices.
    • Enforces high FTC penalties up to $43,792 per violation.
    • Provides parental rights to access, review, and delete data.
    Building Sustainability

    BREEAM

    Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method

    Cost
    €€
    Complexity
    High
    Implementation Time
    12-18 months

    Key Features

    • Credit-based weighted scoring across 10 categories
    • Third-party certification by licensed assessors and BRE
    • Schemes for new construction, in-use, infrastructure
    • Continuous updates via Knowledge Base Compliance Notes
    • Alignment with net zero, EU Taxonomy, resilience

    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), a U.S. federal regulation enacted in 1998 and effective 2000, enforced by the FTC. It safeguards children under 13 from unauthorized online personal data collection by commercial operators of websites, apps, and IoT devices directed to kids or with actual knowledge of child users. Core approach mandates verifiable parental consent before collection, use, or disclosure, with 2013 amendments expanding scope to persistent identifiers, geolocation, and multimedia.

    Key Components

    • Verifiable parental consent via 11+ methods (e.g., credit card, video call).
    • Broad personal information definition (names, device IDs, audio/video with child likeness).
    • Requirements for privacy notices, data security, minimization, and retention limits.
    • Parental rights to review, delete, and revoke consent.
    • Safe harbor programs for compliance (e.g., ESRB, iKeepSafe); no formal certification.

    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 data breaches, builds parent/stakeholder trust, enables child-focused services, and avoids reputational damage in edtech, gaming, and adtech.

    Implementation Overview

    Conduct audience analysis for child appeal, post clear policies, deploy age gates and consent mechanisms, secure data, and audit third-parties. Applies globally to U.S.-targeted services; suitable for all sizes but burdensome for small operators. FTC investigations drive ongoing compliance; leverage tools for VPC and safe harbors. (178 words)

    BREEAM Details

    What It Is

    BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is a science-led sustainability certification framework for the built environment. It assesses performance across buildings, infrastructure, and communities throughout their lifecycle. Primary purpose: convert sustainability goals into measurable credits via category-based scoring.

    Key Components

    • Core categories: Management, Health & Wellbeing, Energy, Transport, Water, Materials, Waste, Land Use & Ecology, Pollution, Innovation.
    • Credit-weighted system with category weightings; ratings from Pass (≥30%) to Outstanding (≥85%).
    • Built on technical manuals, KBCNs, and third-party assurance by licensed assessors and BRE Global.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Drives energy savings (22-33%), asset value uplift, ESG alignment.
    • Meets planning incentives, tenant demands, EU Taxonomy.
    • Mitigates risks in carbon, resilience, biodiversity.
    • Enhances market differentiation, investor trust.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased: pre-assessment, design integration, construction evidence, certification.
    • Early assessor/AP appointment key; applies globally with local adaptations.
    • BRE-audited certification; In-Use for ongoing validation. (178 words)

    Key Differences

    Scope

    COPPA
    Children's online privacy under 13
    BREEAM
    Building sustainability and certification

    Industry

    COPPA
    Online services, apps, adtech globally
    BREEAM
    Construction, real estate worldwide

    Nature

    COPPA
    Mandatory US federal law, FTC enforced
    BREEAM
    Voluntary certification framework

    Testing

    COPPA
    Parental consent verification, audits
    BREEAM
    Assessor-led audits, BRE quality assurance

    Penalties

    COPPA
    $43k+ per violation fines
    BREEAM
    No penalties, loss of certification

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about COPPA and BREEAM

    COPPA FAQ

    BREEAM FAQ

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