What is the purpose of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA)?

The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA) is specifically designed to regulate the collection and use of personal information from children under the age of 13 by operators of websites and online services. The primary goal of COPPA is to ensure that parents have control over what information is collected from their children online and how it is used.

Under this law, website operators must obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting, using, or disclosing personal information from children. This includes safeguards such as providing clear privacy notices, allowing parents to review and delete their children's information, and ensuring that any third parties with access to the data also comply with these requirements.

This focused approach helps protect children's privacy by placing limits on how their data can be collected and utilized in the online environment, directly aligning with the intent of the legislation.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect COPPA’s purpose. For instance, while it does not allow children unlimited access to online content, it also does not cover digital literacy programs or entirely prohibit online marketing to children. Instead, it establishes guidelines strictly around the handling of children's personal data.