COPPA
US regulation protecting children under 13 online privacy
PIPEDA
Canada's federal privacy law for private-sector personal information
Quick Verdict
COPPA mandates parental consent for US children's online data, while PIPEDA requires meaningful consent for all Canadian commercial personal info. Companies adopt COPPA to avoid massive FTC fines targeting kids' apps; PIPEDA ensures trust and compliance in Canada's private sector.
COPPA
Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
Key Features
- Mandates verifiable parental consent prior to child data collection
- Targets operators of child-directed websites, apps, and IoT
- Expansive personal info definition includes persistent IDs, geolocation
- Imposes FTC enforcement with $43,792 per-violation penalties
- Provides parental rights for data review, deletion, revocation
PIPEDA
Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act
Key Features
- 10 Fair Information Principles framework
- Mandatory designation of privacy officer
- Meaningful consent with withdrawal rights
- Breach reporting for significant harm risk
- Individual access and correction within 30 days
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 US federal regulation enforced by the FTC. It safeguards children under 13 from unauthorized personal data collection by commercial websites, apps, and IoT directed at kids or with actual knowledge of child users. Employs a parental-control-centric, risk-based approach mandating consent before collection.
Key Components
- Verifiable parental consent (VPC) via 11+ methods like credit cards, video calls.
- Broad personal information scope: names, device IDs, IP addresses, geolocation, audio/video files.
- Operator duties: privacy notices, data minimization/security, parental access/review/deletion.
- Defined in 16 CFR Part 312; safe harbor self-regulatory programs available.
Why Organizations Use It
- Avoids severe FTC penalties ($43,792/violation; e.g., YouTube $170M fine).
- Meets legal obligations for US/global child-targeted services.
- Mitigates risks in edtech, gaming; builds parental/stakeholder trust.
- Enhances reputation amid rising enforcement.
Implementation Overview
- Evaluate child-directed status, deploy age gates/VPC mechanisms.
- Post policies, secure data, enable parental tools.
- Applies to all applicable operators regardless of size/geography.
- Ongoing compliance via audits; no formal certification but FTC oversight.
PIPEDA Details
What It Is
PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act) is Canada's federal privacy regulation for private-sector organizations handling personal information in commercial activities. It establishes national standards to protect individual privacy while supporting e-commerce, using a principles-based approach derived from 10 Fair Information Principles in Schedule 1.
Key Components
- **10 core principlesAccountability, Identifying Purposes, Consent, Limiting Collection, Limiting Use/Disclosure/Retention, Accuracy, Safeguards, Openness, Individual Access, Challenging Compliance.
- No fixed controls; flexible framework emphasizing data minimization, safeguards, and rights.
- Compliance via self-assessment, OPC audits; no formal certification but enforceable by investigations and court orders.
Why Organizations Use It
- Mandatory for federal entities, cross-border data; builds trust, reduces breach risks.
- Mitigates fines (up to CAD $100,000), reputational damage; enables competitive edge in digital economy.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: governance, data mapping, policies, training, audits.
- Applies to commercial activities nationwide (exemptions in AB/BC/QC intra-provincially); scalable by size/industry.
Key Differences
| Aspect | COPPA | PIPEDA |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Children under 13 online data collection | All personal info in commercial activities |
| Industry | Websites/apps targeting US children, global reach | Private sector Canada, cross-border commercial |
| Nature | Mandatory US federal law, FTC enforced | Mandatory Canadian federal law, OPC enforced |
| Testing | Safe harbor audits, FTC compliance reviews | Self-assessments, OPC audits/investigations |
| Penalties | $43,792 per violation, FTC fines | Up to $100,000 fines, court orders |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about COPPA and PIPEDA
COPPA FAQ
PIPEDA FAQ
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