What is the primary objective of **COPPA**?

**The primary objective of COPPA is to protect the privacy of children under 13 years old by restricting unauthorized online collection, use, or disclosure of their personal information.** Enacted in 1998 and effective April 21, 2000, COPPA requires operators of commercial websites, online services, mobile apps, and IoT devices directed to children—or with actual knowledge of collecting their data—to obtain verifiable parental consent (VPC) prior to any such activities.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **COPPA**?

**Operators of commercial websites, online services, mobile apps, and IoT devices that are directed to children under 13 or have actual knowledge of collecting personal information from them must comply with COPPA.** This includes entities collecting or benefiting from such data (e.g., ad networks), with extraterritorial application to services processing U.S. children's data; non-profits are exempt unless commercial activities apply.

Does **COPPA** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**COPPA does not mandate external audits or third-party certification for all operators, but participation in FTC-approved safe harbor programs (e.g., iKeepSafe, ESRB) involves self-regulatory audits.** Operators must ensure data security, post privacy policies, and document compliance, with safe harbors providing FTC-recognized alternatives to direct enforcement.

How often should an assessment for **COPPA** be performed?

**COPPA does not prescribe a fixed frequency for assessments, but operators should conduct regular reviews aligned with data retention needs and evolving practices.** Assessments are essential post-2013 amendments (covering persistent identifiers, geolocation, multimedia) and in response to FTC regulatory reviews, such as the 2019 comment periods, to maintain verifiable parental consent and data minimization.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **COPPA**?

**Non-compliance with COPPA results in civil penalties up to $43,792 per violation, enforced by the FTC as unfair or deceptive practices under Section 5 of the FTC Act.** Notable cases include YouTube's $170 million fine in 2019 for unconsented tracking on child-directed content; state AGs may also pursue actions, with risks to reputation and operations.

An **COPPA** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**Yes, COPPA's principles of parental consent, data minimization, and child privacy can be mapped to other international frameworks, though it remains a standalone U.S. federal law.** Its strict under-13 threshold and VPC mechanisms align with global child data protections, with precedents like ESRB safe harbor extensions providing worldwide applicability for U.S.-targeted services.

What is the first step to begin implementing **COPPA**?

**The first step to implement COPPA is to conduct an audience analysis to determine if your service is directed to children under 13 or has actual knowledge of their data collection.** This triggers posting a comprehensive privacy policy, implementing age screening, and securing verifiable parental consent mechanisms (e.g., credit card verification, video calls) before collecting personal information like names, device IDs, or geolocation data.

What is the primary objective of **COBIT**?

**COBIT's primary objective is to support understanding, designing, and implementing enterprise governance and management of information and technology (EGIT) to create value from I&T, manage risk, and optimize resources.** COBIT 2019 achieves this through a core model of **40 governance and management objectives** across five domains (**EDM**, **APO**, **BAI**, **DSS**, **MEA**), six governance system principles, and seven components (processes, structures, policies, information, culture, skills, infrastructure). It uses a goals cascade translating stakeholder needs into enterprise goals and alignment goals.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **COBIT**?

**No organization is legally required to comply with COBIT, as it is a voluntary framework maintained by ISACA, not a regulation.** Professionally, it is adopted by enterprises needing structured EGIT, especially in regulated sectors like finance and public services, to align I&T with business objectives, demonstrate assurance via **MEA04 Managed Assurance**, and support audits through its **CMMI-based performance management** (levels 0-5).

Oes **COBIT** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**COBIT does not require external audit or third-party certification, as it is a framework, not a certifiable standard.** Organizations may conduct internal capability assessments using **COBIT Performance Management (CPM)** or engage ISACA-accredited assessors for voluntary maturity appraisals, leveraging **MEA** objectives for self-assurance and evidence collection.

How often should an assessment for **COBIT** be performed?

**COBIT assessments should be performed periodically, typically annually or aligned with business planning cycles, using the CMMI-based capability levels (0-5).** **COBIT 2019** recommends ongoing monitoring via **MEA** domain practices, with formal gap analyses during design factor reviews or post-implementation to track improvements in prioritized objectives.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **COBIT**?

**There are no direct legal consequences for non-compliance with COBIT, as it is a non-mandatory framework.** Indirect risks include weak EGIT leading to unmitigated I&T risks, audit deficiencies, regulatory exposure in aligned obligations, and failure to optimize resources or demonstrate value, per its six governance principles.

An **COBIT** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**Yes, COBIT 2019 explicitly supports mapping to other international frameworks through its governance framework principles emphasizing alignment.** It integrates via design factors and components, using published ISACA resources for interoperability with operational standards, without replacing them.

What is the first step to begin implementing **COBIT**?

**The first step to implement COBIT is to evaluate enterprise context using design factors and conduct a current-state capability assessment.** **COBIT 2019** guidance (e.g., **APO02 Managed Strategy**) starts with understanding stakeholder needs, goals cascade mapping, and baseline scoring via **CPM** to define a tailored governance system scope.

COPPA vs COBIT

Standards Comparison

COPPA

Mandatory

1998

U.S. regulation mandating parental consent for children's online data

COBIT

Voluntary

2019

Global framework for enterprise IT governance and management

Quick Verdict

COPPA mandates parental consent for child data collection from online operators, enforced by FTC fines. COBIT provides voluntary IT governance framework for enterprises to align tech with business goals via tailored objectives and maturity assessments.

Children Privacy

COPPA

Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)

Cost

€€€€

Complexity

High

Implementation Time

6-12 months

Key Features

Verifiable parental consent required before child data collection
Covers children under 13 on commercial online services
Includes persistent identifiers in personal information definition
Provides parents data access, review, and deletion rights
Features FTC enforcement with maximum $43,792 penalties

IT Governance

COBIT

COBIT 2019: Governance and Management Objectives

Cost

€€€€

Complexity

High

Implementation Time

18-24 months

Key Features

40 objectives across five governance domains (EDM, APO, BAI, DSS, MEA)
11 design factors for tailoring governance systems
CMMI-based capability levels 0-5 for performance management
Goals cascade linking stakeholder needs to IT alignment goals
Separation of governance from management responsibilities

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 and effective 2000, enforced by the FTC. It protects children under 13 from unauthorized online personal data collection by commercial websites, apps, and IoT devices targeting kids or with actual knowledge. Core approach: empowers parents via verifiable parental consent (VPC) before collection, use, or disclosure, with 2013 amendments expanding scope.

Key Components

**VPC mechanisms11+ methods (e.g., credit card, video call).
**Personal informationNames, geolocation, persistent IDs (IP, device), audio/video.
**ObligationsPrivacy policies, parental access/review/deletion, security, minimization. Built on parental control; safe harbors for self-regulation; no formal certification.

Why Organizations Use It

Mandatory compliance avoids $43,792 per violation fines (e.g., YouTube $170M). Reduces breach risks, builds parental/stakeholder trust, enhances reputation in edtech/gaming. Global reach deters non-U.S. operators targeting U.S. children; strategic for risk management.

Implementation Overview

Analyze child-directed content, deploy age gates/VPC, draft policies, secure data. Applies to commercial operators handling U.S. kids' data worldwide. For SMBs: low-cost tools; enterprises: audits. FTC enforcement; safe harbors simplify.

COBIT Details

What It Is

COBIT 2019, or Control Objectives for Information and Related Technology, is a comprehensive IT governance and management framework developed by ISACA. Its primary purpose is to help organizations create value from IT, manage risks, and optimize resources by aligning enterprise goals with IT through a tailored governance system. It uses a design-factor-driven approach with 11 factors for customization.

Key Components

40 governance and management objectives grouped into five domains: EDM (governance), APO, BAI, DSS (management), MEA (monitoring).
Six governance system principles and seven components (e.g., processes, structures, culture).
CMMI-based performance management (levels 0-5); no formal certification but capability assessments.

Why Organizations Use It

Aligns IT with business strategy via goals cascade.
Supports compliance (SOX, GDPR) and risk optimization.
Enhances assurance, digital transformation, and stakeholder trust.

Implementation Overview

Phased design workflow using toolkits; gap analysis, pilots, training. Suited for medium-large enterprises globally; voluntary with audits via ISACA credentials.

Key Differences

Aspect	COPPA	COBIT
Scope	Child privacy under 13 online data collection	Enterprise IT governance and management
Industry	Online services, apps targeting US children	All industries worldwide, enterprise IT
Nature	Mandatory US federal regulation, FTC enforced	Voluntary ISACA governance framework
Testing	FTC audits, compliance reviews	Capability maturity assessments, internal audits
Penalties	$43k per violation, $170M fines	No legal penalties, certification loss

Scope

COPPA

Child privacy under 13 online data collection

COBIT

Enterprise IT governance and management

Industry

COPPA

Online services, apps targeting US children

COBIT

All industries worldwide, enterprise IT

Nature

COPPA

Mandatory US federal regulation, FTC enforced

COBIT

Voluntary ISACA governance framework

Testing

COPPA

FTC audits, compliance reviews

COBIT

Capability maturity assessments, internal audits

Penalties

COPPA

$43k per violation, $170M fines

COBIT

No legal penalties, certification loss

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about COPPA and COBIT

COPPA FAQ

COBIT FAQ

You Might also be Interested in These Articles...

CIS Controls v8.1 IG1 Ransomware-Resilience Sprint: A 30-60-90 Day Action Plan (With Evidence Checklist)

Tactical CIS Controls v8.1 IG1 playbook for ransomware resilience. 30-60-90 day sprint with tool-agnostic tasks, ownership & evidence checklists to prove progre

NIST CSF 2.0 Deep Dive: Mastering the Updated Framework Core Functions

Unpack NIST CSF 2.0's enhanced Core Functions: Govern, Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover. Get SME playbooks, governance shifts & strategies for cyber

The Human-AI Synergy: How Modern Compliance Tools Amplify Your Team's Strategic Impact

Unlock human-AI synergy with modern compliance tools. Automate monitoring, cut non-compliance risks 3x, and boost strategic decision-making. Elevate your team's

Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM

Transform your compliance journey with our AI-powered assessment platform

Assess your organization's maturity across multiple standards and regulations including ISO 27001, DORA, NIS2, NIST, GDPR, and hundreds more. Get actionable insights and track your progress with collaborative, AI-powered evaluations.

100+ Standards & Regulations

AI-Powered Insights

Collaborative Assessments

Actionable Recommendations

Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages

GDPR UK vs Basel III

Unravel GDPR UK vs Basel III: Key contrasts in data privacy laws & banking capital rules. Master compliance differences, cut risks—executive guide now!

TOGAF vs ISA 95

Discover TOGAF vs ISA-95: TOGAF powers enterprise-wide IT alignment; ISA-95 excels in manufacturing IT/OT integration. Key differences, benefits & tips to optimize your strategy. Dive in now!

CMMC vs AS9100

Decode CMMC vs AS9100: DoD cybersecurity tiers meet aerospace QMS rigor. Compare NIST controls, risk mgmt & supply chain rules for defense contractors. Certify smarter now.

COPPA

COBIT

Quick Verdict

COPPA

Key Features

COBIT

Key Features

Detailed Analysis

COPPA Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

COBIT Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

Key Differences

Scope

Industry

Nature

Testing

Penalties

Frequently Asked Questions

COPPA FAQ

What is the primary objective of COPPA?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with COPPA?

Does COPPA require an external audit or third-party certification?

How often should an assessment for COPPA be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with COPPA?

An COPPA be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing COPPA?

COBIT FAQ

What is the primary objective of COBIT?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with COBIT?

Oes COBIT require an external audit or third-party certification?

How often should an assessment for COBIT be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with COBIT?

An COBIT be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing COBIT?

You Might also be Interested in These Articles...

CIS Controls v8.1 IG1 Ransomware-Resilience Sprint: A 30-60-90 Day Action Plan (With Evidence Checklist)

NIST CSF 2.0 Deep Dive: Mastering the Updated Framework Core Functions

The Human-AI Synergy: How Modern Compliance Tools Amplify Your Team's Strategic Impact

Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM

Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages

GDPR UK vs Basel III

TOGAF vs ISA 95

CMMC vs AS9100