FTC announces new rules to protect kids' online privacy despite industry objecti

[silicon_toad2000]

The Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday announced a set of broad new rules aimed at protecting children's privacy when they visit websites or use mobile Internet applications, after making some modifications based on objections from leading tech and entertainment companies.

The new rules would require those businesses to obtain parental consent before collecting photos, videos or location information from children younger than 13. It applies the same rule to using cookies or other digital codes to track the online activity of children under 13, even if the services don't know the child's name.

The commission is also adding Internet advertising networks, operators of mobile apps and major Internet platforms such as Facebook to the list of businesses that are liable for practices that result in gathering information from children without their parents' consent.

But in one departure from an earlier proposal, the commission said operators of so-called "third party plug-ins," such as the Facebook "like" button which appears on a wide variety of websites, are not liable unless they have "actual knowledge" that they are collecting personal information through a site directed at kids. The commission also decided not to make operators of online app stores, such as the Google Play or Apple iTunes markets, liable for the practices of apps directed at children.

http://www.sourcenewspapers.com/articles/2012/12/26/news/doc50db0c2fd6a7a399746451.txt