Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, PRIVACY NEWS: AgeCheq seeks approval of verifiable parental consent method under COPPA, (Aug 25, 2014)

AgeCheq, Inc.—a company that provides tools to assist mobile device users in managing their private data—has filed an application with the FTC for approval of a verifiable parental consent method not currently provided for under Section 312.12(b) of the Final Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule (the rule). The Commission is seeking comments on the issue until September 30, 2014.

According to the FTC, the rule provides that online websites and services that are directed at children must receive parental permission prior to collecting personal information on children. Under the rule, there are various methods for gaining parental consent, but parties may also submit new consent methods to the Commission for approval. In the matter of AgeCheq’s application, the Commission is seeking comments on (1) whether the proposed method is already covered by existing methods included in the rule; (2) whether the proposed method meets the rule’s requirement that it be reasonably calculated to ensure that the individual providing consent is actually the child’s parent; and (3) whether the program poses a risk to consumers’ information, and whether any such risk outweighed by the benefits of the program.

Companies: AgeCheq, Inc.

News: Privacy FederalTradeCommissionNews