Future of the COPPA Rule: What’s on the agenda

Future of the COPPA Rule: What’s on the agenda

lfair

October 1, 2019 | 11:46AM

Future of the COPPA Rule: What’s on the agenda



By

Lesley Fair






Technology changes at the speed of light, but the touchstone of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act Rule remains constant. When it comes to the collection of their kids’ personal information online, parents are in charge. But how does that principle apply in technologies not originally anticipated by the COPPA Rule ? Whether it’s social media, the Internet of Things, or educational technology, do changes in media and the marketplace warrant updates to the Rule?

The FTC staff asked that question and others a few months ago and the time has come to talk it over. On October 7, 2019, we’re hosting The Future of the COPPA Rule: An FTC Workshop and you’ll want to check out the just-posted agenda.

FTC Commissioner Christine Wilson will open the event with comments at 9:00 AM Eastern Time. After a presentation by Dr. Jenny Radesky, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Michigan Medical School, Panel #1 will examine the State of the World in Children’s Privacy . One panelist of particular note: Jo Pedder, Head of Regulatory Strategy for the United Kingdom’s Information Commissioner’s Office.

Next on the agenda: remarks from FTC Commissioner Noah Phillips, followed by Panel #2, which will explore the Scope of the COPPA Rul e.

The afternoon session will begin with comments from Morgan Reed, President of ACT, The App Association. Then Panel #3 will discuss Definitions, Exceptions, and Misconceptions .

Jonathan Mayer, Assistant Professor in Princeton University’s Department of Computer Science will speak on Technology Trends Since the Revised COPPA Rul e. Panel #4 will consider the Uses and Misuses of Persistent Identifiers .

Closing remarks from Maneesha Mithal, Associate Director of the FTC’s Division of Privacy & Identity Protection, will put the day in perspective.

The Future of the COPPA Rule is free and open to the public. You can attend in person at the FTC’s Constitution Center conference facility, 400 7th Street, S.W., in Washington, DC, or watch the webcast from a link on the event page that will go live moments before the 9:00 ET start on October 7th.

Interested in filing a public comment on the subject? The record will remain open until October 23, 2019.