COPPA
U.S. regulation protecting children's online privacy under age 13
ISO 27018
International code of practice for public cloud PII protection
Quick Verdict
COPPA mandates parental consent for US children's online data, enforced by FTC fines. ISO 27018 provides voluntary cloud PII controls via ISO audits. Companies adopt COPPA for legal compliance, ISO 27018 for global trust and procurement advantage.
COPPA
Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
Key Features
- Mandates verifiable parental consent before data collection from kids under 13
- Expansive personal information definition includes persistent IDs and geolocation
- Targets child-directed operators or those with actual knowledge of users
- Provides parental rights to access review and delete child data
- FTC enforcement imposes penalties up to $43,792 per violation
ISO 27018
ISO/IEC 27018:2025 Code of practice for PII protection
Key Features
- Privacy controls for public cloud PII processors
- Subprocessor transparency and disclosure requirements
- Customer breach notification obligations
- Support for data subject rights handling
- Prohibits secondary PII use without consent
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
COPPA Details
What It Is
The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), enacted in 1998 and effective 2000, is a U.S. federal regulation enforced by the FTC. It safeguards children under 13 from unauthorized personal data collection by commercial websites, apps, IoT devices, and services targeting kids or aware of their users. Its risk-based approach mandates verifiable parental consent prior to collection, use, or disclosure.
Key Components
- Verifiable parental consent (VPC) via 11+ methods like credit cards or video calls.
- Broad personal information scope: names, addresses, persistent identifiers, geolocation, photos/videos.
- Obligations include privacy notices, data minimization, security, parental access/review/deletion.
- Safe harbor programs (e.g., ESRB, iKeepSafe) for audited self-regulation.
Why Organizations Use It
Ensures legal compliance amid $43,792 per-violation fines (e.g., YouTube's $170M). Mitigates risks from edtech, AI, behavioral tracking; builds parental/stakeholder trust; applies globally to U.S.-targeted services.
Implementation Overview
Conduct audience analysis for child appeal, deploy age gates/VPC, post policies, secure data, audit third-parties. Targets operators of all sizes in digital sectors worldwide; FTC enforcement focuses on precedents, no formal certification but safe harbors ease proof.
ISO 27018 Details
What It Is
ISO/IEC 27018 is a code of practice extending ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC 27002 to protect personally identifiable information (PII) in public clouds where providers act as PII processors. Published in 2025 (latest edition), it addresses cloud-specific privacy challenges like multi-tenancy, subprocessors, and data flows using a risk-based approach.
Key Components
- ~25–30 additional privacy controls mapped to ISO 27001 Annex A
- Core principles: consent, purpose limitation, data minimization, transparency, accountability, security
- Integrated into ISMS; assessed during ISO 27001 audits via Statement of Applicability
Why Organizations Use It
- Builds trust, accelerates procurement, differentiates CSPs in competitive markets
- Aligns with GDPR Article 28, HIPAA processor duties
- Reduces privacy risks, supports insurance, enables regulatory compliance evidence
Implementation Overview
- Layer onto existing ISO 27001 ISMS through gap analysis and control enhancements
- Activities: subprocessor disclosure, breach notification, rights support, training
- Suited for CSPs of all sizes globally; third-party audits annually
Key Differences
| Aspect | COPPA | ISO 27018 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Children under 13 online data collection | PII protection in public cloud processors |
| Industry | Websites/apps targeting US children | Cloud service providers worldwide |
| Nature | US federal law, mandatory, FTC enforced | Voluntary code of practice, ISO 27001 extension |
| Testing | No certification; FTC investigations | ISO 27001 audits with annual surveillance |
| Penalties | $43,792 per violation, FTC fines | No legal penalties, certification loss |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about COPPA and ISO 27018
COPPA FAQ
ISO 27018 FAQ
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