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.** Enacted in 1998 and effective April 21, 2000, COPPA mandates operators of commercial websites, online services, mobile apps, and IoT devices directed to children—or with actual knowledge of collecting their data—to post privacy policies, limit collection to necessities, ensure data security, and provide parents access, review, and deletion rights (16 CFR Part 312).

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

**COPPA applies to 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.** This includes entities collecting or benefiting from such data (e.g., ad networks) and extends extraterritorially 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 requires audits by designated entities.** Examples include iKeepSafe (approved 2014) and ESRB (modified 2018), which provide self-regulatory compliance paths with FTC oversight.

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

**COPPA does not prescribe a fixed frequency for assessments, but operators must conduct ongoing reviews to ensure continuous compliance with evolving data practices and FTC guidance.** Regular internal audits are recommended, especially post-2013 amendments expanding personal information definitions, and in response to Federal Register notices or enforcement actions.

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.** Notable cases 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 maintains a narrower focus on children under 13.** Its parental consent, data minimization, and security requirements align with aspects of global child privacy rules, providing a U.S. baseline for extraterritorial operators.

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 collects their personal information.** This involves screening for child-appeal factors (e.g., cartoons, games) and assessing "actual knowledge" via analytics, followed by posting a comprehensive privacy policy.

What is the primary objective of **NIST 800-171**?

**NIST SP 800-171 provides recommended security requirements for protecting the confidentiality of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in nonfederal systems and organizations.** It applies to components that process, store, transmit CUI, or provide protection for such components, tailored from NIST SP 800-53 Moderate baseline. Revision 3 (May 2024) supersedes Revision 2, organizing requirements into 17 families including new areas like Supply Chain Risk Management.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **NIST 800-171**?

**Nonfederal organizations handling CUI via federal contracts, grants, or agreements must comply with NIST SP 800-171.** This includes DoD contractors and subcontractors under DFARS 252.204-7012 for covered contractor information systems processing Covered Defense Information (CDI). Applicability is contractual, targeting systems not operated on behalf of the government.

Does **NIST 800-171** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**No, NIST SP 800-171 does not mandate external audits or third-party certification.** Organizations perform self-assessments using SP 800-171A procedures (examine, interview, test). DoD may require SPRS score submission or CMMC Level 2 certification, which aligns to SP 800-171 but adds independent assurance.

How often should an assessment for **NIST 800-171** be performed?

**Organizations must perform and document security assessments at an organization-defined frequency, typically annually for DoD contractors.** SP 800-171 requires a System Security Plan (SSP) describing assessment results and a Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) for remediation. Continuous monitoring supports ongoing validation.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **NIST 800-171**?

**Non-compliance with NIST SP 800-171 can result in contract ineligibility, termination, or exclusion from DoD awards.** DFARS 252.204-7012 mandates implementation; failures lead to SPRS score penalties (down to -203), low scores barring bidding, plus 72-hour incident reporting obligations and potential False Claims Act liability.

Can **NIST 800-171** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**Yes, NIST SP 800-171 Revision 2 Appendix D provides explicit mappings to NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001.** Revision 3 aligns closely with SP 800-53 Revision 5, enabling integration with established programs. FedRAMP Moderate is often equivalent or more stringent for cloud services.

What is the first step to begin implementing **NIST 800-171**?

**The first step is to define the system boundary and scope components processing, storing, or transmitting CUI.** Develop an initial SSP documenting boundaries, environments, and connections, followed by a gap analysis against the 97 (r3) requirements using SP 800-171A procedures.

COPPA vs NIST 800-171

Standards Comparison

COPPA

Mandatory

1998

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

NIST 800-171

Mandatory

2020

U.S. standard for protecting CUI in nonfederal systems

Quick Verdict

COPPA mandates parental consent for kids' online data on commercial sites, while NIST 800-171 requires security controls for CUI in contractor systems. Companies adopt COPPA to avoid FTC fines and enable child-targeted services; NIST 800-171 for federal contract eligibility.

Children Privacy

COPPA

Children's Online Privacy Protection Act

Cost

€€€€

Complexity

High

Implementation Time

6-12 months

Key Features

Mandates verifiable parental consent prior to data collection
Expansive PII definition: persistent IDs, geolocation, multimedia
Targets child-directed commercial websites, apps, IoT devices
Requires parental access, review, deletion rights
Enforces $43,792 civil penalties per violation

Controlled Unclassified Information

NIST 800-171

NIST SP 800-171 Protecting CUI in Nonfederal Systems

Cost

€€€€

Complexity

High

Implementation Time

12-18 months

Key Features

Protects CUI confidentiality in nonfederal systems
97-110 requirements across 17 control families
Mandates SSP and POA&M documentation
Supports CUI enclave scoping for efficiency
Aligns with DFARS and CMMC compliance

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) is a U.S. federal regulation, enacted in 1998 and effective April 2000, enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). It protects children under 13 from unauthorized collection of personal information by operators of commercial websites, online services, apps, and IoT devices directed to kids or with actual knowledge of child users. Its core approach empowers parents through verifiable consent and strict data controls.

Key Components

**Verifiable Parental Consent (VPC)11+ methods like credit card verification, video calls, sliding scale by risk.
**Broad PII DefinitionNames, addresses, persistent IDs (cookies, device IDs), street-level geolocation, audio/video files.
**Core ObligationsPrivacy policies, data minimization/security, parental review/deletion/revocation rights.
**Safe HarborsFTC-approved self-regulatory programs (e.g., ESRB, iKeepSafe) with audits.
**Enforcement ModelFTC civil penalties up to $43,792 per violation.

Why Organizations Use It

Mandatory compliance avoids massive fines (e.g., YouTube's $170M). Reduces breach risks, builds parental/stakeholder trust, enhances reputation in edtech/gaming. Addresses global targeting of U.S. children, supports ethical practices amid rising enforcement.

Implementation Overview

Conduct audience analysis, implement age gates/VPC mechanisms, develop policies, secure data, minimize collection. Applies to all commercial child-facing operators worldwide. Safe harbors optional for streamlined compliance via audits; suitable for startups to enterprises, with ongoing monitoring.

NIST 800-171 Details

What It Is

NIST SP 800-171 is a U.S. government special publication titled Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information in Nonfederal Systems and Organizations. It is a control-based framework providing recommended security requirements for safeguarding CUI confidentiality in nonfederal systems, tailored from NIST SP 800-53 Moderate baseline. Scope applies to components processing, storing, transmitting CUI or providing protection, emphasizing risk-commensurate safeguards.

Key Components

17 families in Rev 3 (e.g., Access Control, Audit, Supply Chain Risk Management), with ~97-110 requirements.
Built on FIPS 200 and SP 800-53; eliminates basic/derived split in Rev 3.
Core artifacts: System Security Plan (SSP), Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M).
Compliance via self-assessment or third-party (e.g., CMMC Level 2), using SP 800-171A procedures.

Why Organizations Use It

Contractual mandates (e.g., DFARS 252.204-7012 for DoD).
Reduces breach risk, ensures procurement eligibility.
Builds stakeholder trust, competitive edge in federal supply chains.

Implementation Overview

Phased: scoping, gap analysis, controls, evidence collection.
Applies to contractors handling CUI; all sizes, U.S.-focused.
Audits via examine/interview/test; ongoing monitoring required. (178 words)

Key Differences

Aspect	COPPA	NIST 800-171
Scope	Children under 13 online privacy/data collection	CUI confidentiality in nonfederal systems
Industry	Commercial websites/apps targeting kids, global	Federal contractors/supply chain, US-focused
Nature	Mandatory FTC regulation with parental consent	Contractual security requirements, NIST guidance
Testing	FTC audits/enforcement actions, no certification	SPRS scoring, SSP/POA&M assessments, CMMC audits
Penalties	$43k per violation, FTC fines (e.g., YouTube $170M)	Contract loss, ineligibility, no direct fines

Scope

COPPA

Children under 13 online privacy/data collection

NIST 800-171

CUI confidentiality in nonfederal systems

Industry

COPPA

Commercial websites/apps targeting kids, global

NIST 800-171

Federal contractors/supply chain, US-focused

Nature

COPPA

Mandatory FTC regulation with parental consent

NIST 800-171

Contractual security requirements, NIST guidance

Testing

COPPA

FTC audits/enforcement actions, no certification

NIST 800-171

SPRS scoring, SSP/POA&M assessments, CMMC audits

Penalties

COPPA

$43k per violation, FTC fines (e.g., YouTube $170M)

NIST 800-171

Contract loss, ineligibility, no direct fines

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about COPPA and NIST 800-171

COPPA FAQ

NIST 800-171 FAQ

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COPPA

NIST 800-171

Quick Verdict

COPPA

Key Features

NIST 800-171

Key Features

Detailed Analysis

COPPA Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

NIST 800-171 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?

NIST 800-171 FAQ

What is the primary objective of NIST 800-171?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with NIST 800-171?

Does NIST 800-171 require an external audit or third-party certification?

How often should an assessment for NIST 800-171 be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with NIST 800-171?

Can NIST 800-171 be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing NIST 800-171?

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HITRUST CSF MyCSF Platform Mastery: Infograph of Evidence Tagging Workflows and Top 5 Maturity Tier Acceleration Takeaways

The Panoramic View: How Integrated Compliance Monitoring Creates Unprecedented Organizational Visibility and Adaptability

Your Compliance Command Center: How Modern Tools Orchestrate Cross-Departmental Adherence

Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM

Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages

PIPL vs ISO 37001

PRINCE2 vs CMMI

ISO 22301 vs NERC CIP