Two app developers recently agreed to pay hefty fines to settle claims that they violated children’s privacy by allowing advertisers to profile them without obtaining parental consent.
Under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), companies must keep personal information collected from children under 13 confidential and secure. This means that names, email addresses, or other identifying information tied to a particular user or device cannot be collected without parental permission.
Protecting student privacy has been a priority of Behrman House’s Online Learning Center since its inception. Even as we continually work to improve the OLC user experience, we commit to ensuring it is a safe space for children that is free from commercial interference.
Technology is a valuable tool for students to enhance their learning, and we are careful to balance the need for access to information, data, and other feedback with proper safeguards to shield children’s identities.
We do not allow advertising on the Online Learning Center nor do we use identifying data such as cookies and IP addresses. We are also certified under the federally approved kidSafe® Seal Program.
This is the first time the Federal Trade Commission has gone after companies for this type of violation. The developers must pay $360,000 in penalties to the FTC because these apps had built-in software that allowed others to access information about kids for commercial purposes.
We know that you have a wealth of apps and websites to choose from when selecting digital education options. Be sure to read the privacy and Terms of Use statements on any website or app to understand how it will use your students' information before allowing children access.
Behrman House commits that we will not use your students’ information for anything other than their own learning.
