Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act

Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0)

This bill updates and strengthens federal privacy protections for young people online. It expands upon the original Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) from 1998 by extending privacy protections to teenagers between the ages of 13 and 16, not just children under 13. Under the bill, websites, apps, and online platforms would be prohibited from collecting, using, or sharing personal data from users in this age group without their consent. It also bans targeted advertising directed at children and teenagers, meaning companies could not use a young person's personal information to show them ads tailored to their interests or behavior.

The bill also requires online platforms to offer a way for users — and parents of younger children — to delete personal data that has been collected. It establishes a "Digital Marketing Bill of Rights" for minors and creates new standards that companies must follow to protect young users' information. Platforms that are "likely to be visited" by children and teens would be held to these rules, closing a loophole where companies previously avoided compliance by simply claiming their services were not intended for young audiences.

This legislation primarily affects technology companies, social media platforms, app developers, and any website that collects data from users. For families, it means stronger legal protections for what information can be gathered about their children online. The bill passed the Senate unanimously and has been sent to the House for consideration, meaning it has received broad bipartisan support so far.