The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) is a U.S. federal law designed to limit the collection and use of personal information about children by the operators of Internet services and Web sites. Passed by the U.S. Congress in 1998, the law took effect in April 2000.

What happens if you don't follow COPPA?

What are the possible penalties for violating COPPA? The Rule allows for civil penalties of up to $42,530 per violation, but the FTC considers a number of factors in determining the appropriate amount, including a company's financial condition and the impact a penalty could have on its ability to stay in business.

Does COPPA apply to 13 year olds?

Currently, COPPA protects children below 13 years. For COPPA compliance purposes, operators only need to label their websites as 13+ to start collecting minors' personal information. Today, children below 13 years can still access such sites and provide their information to operators, knowingly or unknowingly.