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The PROTECT Kids Act Seeks to Amend the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act


On January 9, 2020, two United States House of Representatives, Mr. Tim Walberg of Michigan and Mr. Bobby Rush of Illinois, introduced a new bill to amend the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”). The new bill, H.R. 5573, can be cited as the “Preventing Real Online Threats Endangering Children Today” or “PROTECT Kids Act”. The PROTECT Kids Act seeks to make amendments and additions to COPPA, which would expand certain requirements.

Currently, COPPA requires that companies obtain verifiable parental consent for kids under the age of 13. The PROTECT Kids Act seeks to amend COPPA's age requirement and instead would define a child as under the age of 16. Additionally, the PROTECT Kids Act seeks to add language such as, “mobile application” within certain sections of COPPA to protect children’s privacy in mobile applications. Other additions to the PROTECT Kids Act include adding definitions of: (1) mobile application, (2) biometric information, and (3) precise geolocation information.

For more information about this bill visit the PROTECT Kids Act's proposal online..

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