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

**The primary objective of COPPA is to protect the privacy of children under 13 by requiring verifiable parental consent before operators collect their personal information online.** Enacted in 1998 and effective April 21, 2000, COPPA mandates that operators of commercial websites, online services, mobile apps, and IoT devices directed to children—or with actual knowledge of collecting data from them—post privacy policies, limit collection to necessities, ensure data security, and grant parents review, deletion, and revocation rights (16 CFR Part 312).

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 their personal information must comply with COPPA.** This includes entities collecting or benefiting from such data (e.g., ad networks), with extraterritorial reach to services processing U.S. children's data; non-profits are exempt if not commercial.

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 implement reasonable security procedures and can demonstrate compliance through internal policies, though the FTC enforces via investigations.

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—retaining information only as long as necessary and deleting via reasonable measures.** Ongoing monitoring is essential due to FTC regulatory reviews (e.g., 2019 comment periods) and evolving tech like AI personalization.

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, with state AGs able to sue.** Precedents include YouTube's $170 million fine in 2019 for unconsented tracking on child-directed content.

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

**Yes, COPPA can be mapped to other international frameworks, though it serves as a U.S.-specific baseline with global applicability for services targeting U.S. children.** Its parental consent and data minimization align with aspects of frameworks like GDPR's child provisions, but COPPA's under-13 threshold and PII definitions (e.g., persistent identifiers) provide unique mappings.

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.** Follow with posting a comprehensive privacy policy, implementing age screens, and preparing verifiable parental consent mechanisms (e.g., credit card, video call).

What is the primary objective of **ISO 37301**?

**ISO 37301 specifies requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and improving an effective Compliance Management System (CMS).** Published on 13 April 2021, it replaces the guidance-only ISO 19600 by introducing certifiable 'shall' requirements, following the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle and High-Level Structure (HLS) to systematically identify compliance obligations, assess risks, and foster a culture of integrity.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **ISO 37301**?

**ISO 37301 is voluntary and applicable to organizations of all sizes, types, and sectors worldwide.** It is not legally mandated but recommended for those seeking third-party certification to demonstrate CMS effectiveness to stakeholders, regulators, investors, and partners, with proportionality scaled to organizational context, risks, and resources.

Does **ISO 37301** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**ISO 37301 enables but does not require external audits or third-party certification.** Certification is optional via accredited bodies (e.g., ANAB-accredited), involving initial conformity assessment followed by surveillance audits in a typical three-year cycle, providing verifiable evidence of CMS alignment.

How often should an assessment for **ISO 37301** be performed?

**ISO 37301 requires continual performance evaluation, including monitoring, internal audits at planned intervals, and management reviews at planned intervals.** Internal audits are risk-based in frequency, with external surveillance audits typically annually within a three-year certification cycle, supported by ISO 37302 guidance for effectiveness measurement.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **ISO 37301**?

**Non-conformance with ISO 37301 results in loss of certification, corrective action mandates, or audit nonconformities, but no direct legal penalties as it is voluntary.** Organizations risk heightened regulatory exposure, reputational damage, fines from unmet obligations, and stakeholder distrust without a robust CMS.

Can **ISO 37301** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**Yes, ISO 37301 follows the High-Level Structure (HLS), enabling seamless mapping and integration with other ISO management system standards.** Its PDCA cycle and clauses (context, leadership, planning, etc.) align with companion standards like ISO 37302 (effectiveness) and ISO 37303 (competence), supporting Integrated Management Systems (IMS).

What is the first step to begin implementing **ISO 37301**?

**The first step is to determine the organization's context, including internal/external issues and interested parties' needs/expectations.** This informs CMS scope, obligation inventory, and a centralized compliance register, securing top management commitment per Clause 4.

COPPA vs ISO 37301

Standards Comparison

COPPA

Mandatory

1998

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

ISO 37301

Voluntary

2021

Certifiable international standard for compliance management systems

Quick Verdict

COPPA mandates parental consent for children's online data collection under 13, enforced by FTC fines. ISO 37301 provides voluntary CMS certification for broad compliance risks. Companies adopt COPPA to avoid massive penalties; ISO 37301 for governance assurance and integration.

Children Privacy

COPPA

Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)

Cost

€€€€

Complexity

High

Implementation Time

6-12 months

Key Features

Mandates verifiable parental consent before child data collection
Protects children under 13 on child-directed online services
Defines broad PII including persistent IDs and geolocation
Provides parental rights to review and delete data
Enforces high FTC penalties up to $43,792 per violation

Compliance Management

ISO 37301

ISO 37301:2021 Compliance management systems requirements

Cost

€€€€

Complexity

High

Implementation Time

12-18 months

Key Features

First certifiable standard for compliance management systems
Risk-based assessment of compliance obligations
Leadership commitment and compliance culture emphasis
Mandatory whistleblowing channels and protections
HLS-aligned for integration with other ISO standards

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), enacted in 1998 and effective 2000, is a U.S. federal regulation enforced by the FTC. It safeguards privacy of children under 13 from unauthorized online data collection by commercial websites, apps, and IoT devices directed to kids or with actual knowledge of users. Core approach: empowers parents via verifiable consent before any PII collection, use, or disclosure.

Key Components

**Verifiable parental consent (VPC)11+ methods like credit cards, video calls.
Broad **PIInames, device IDs, geolocation, photos/videos/audio files.
Privacy notices, data security, minimization, and retention limits.
Parental rights: access, review, deletion, revocation.
Safe harbor self-regulatory programs (e.g., ESRB, iKeepSafe).

Why Organizations Use It

Mandatory for operators to avoid $43,792 per-violation fines (e.g., YouTube's $170M). Mitigates enforcement risks, builds parent/stakeholder trust, enables edtech/gaming compliance. Global reach for U.S. child data; enhances reputation amid rising kids' online activity.

Implementation Overview

Assess child-directed status, post policies, deploy age gates/VPC, secure data. Applies to all sizes in relevant sectors worldwide. Key steps: audience analysis, tech integration, audits. Safe harbors streamline; typical timeline 6-12 months.

ISO 37301 Details

What It Is

ISO 37301:2021, Compliance management systems – Requirements with guidance for use, is the first certifiable international standard specifying requirements for Compliance Management Systems (CMS). It replaces guidance-only ISO 19600, providing a risk-based, systematic approach applicable to all organization sizes/sectors using Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) and High-Level Structure (HLS).

Key Components

Core pillars include leadership commitment, compliance culture, risk/opportunity assessment, operational controls, whistleblowing protections, performance evaluation (KPIs, audits, reviews), and continual improvement. Flexible requirements proportional to risks; supports companion standards (ISO 37302 effectiveness, ISO 37303 competence). Certification model via accredited bodies.

Why Organizations Use It

Mitigates regulatory/ESG risks, reduces fines/reputation damage. Builds stakeholder trust, investor confidence; enables competitive differentiation via certification. Integrates with ISO 9001/14001/27001; aids UN SDGs like 8/16.

Implementation Overview

Phased: context analysis, obligation register, resource allocation, training, internal audits, management reviews, certification. Scalable for SMEs/enterprises; universal geography. Resource-intensive cultural shift.

Key Differences

Aspect	COPPA	ISO 37301
Scope	Children under 13 online privacy	All compliance obligations organization-wide
Industry	Commercial websites/apps targeting kids, global for US data	All industries/sectors worldwide, all sizes
Nature	Mandatory US federal law enforced by FTC	Voluntary certifiable international standard
Testing	FTC enforcement audits/investigations	Accredited third-party certification audits
Penalties	$43,792 per violation civil fines	Loss of certification, no legal penalties

Scope

COPPA

Children under 13 online privacy

ISO 37301

All compliance obligations organization-wide

Industry

COPPA

Commercial websites/apps targeting kids, global for US data

ISO 37301

All industries/sectors worldwide, all sizes

Nature

COPPA

Mandatory US federal law enforced by FTC

ISO 37301

Voluntary certifiable international standard

Testing

COPPA

FTC enforcement audits/investigations

ISO 37301

Accredited third-party certification audits

Penalties

COPPA

$43,792 per violation civil fines

ISO 37301

Loss of certification, no legal penalties

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about COPPA and ISO 37301

COPPA FAQ

ISO 37301 FAQ

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COPPA

ISO 37301

Quick Verdict

COPPA

Key Features

ISO 37301

Key Features

Detailed Analysis

COPPA Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

ISO 37301 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?

Can COPPA be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing COPPA?

ISO 37301 FAQ

What is the primary objective of ISO 37301?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with ISO 37301?

Does ISO 37301 require an external audit or third-party certification?

How often should an assessment for ISO 37301 be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with ISO 37301?

Can ISO 37301 be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing ISO 37301?

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The Tool Landscape for Reaching and Maintaining ISO 27001 Compliance

Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM

Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages

NIST 800-53 vs EMAS

EMAS vs SQF

ENERGY STAR vs ISO 22301