FTC Seeks Comments on Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a request for comments
concerning a proposed parental consent method submitted by AssertID,
Inc. under the Voluntary Commission Approval Processes provision of the
Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule. Amended December 19, 2012, and
effective July 1, 2013, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule requires
certain websites to post privacy policies and obtain verifiable parental
consent before collecting, using or disclosing personal information from
children younger than age 13 and provides approved methods for obtaining
the consent. Interested parties may, however, submit requests for commission
approval of additional consent methods.

Regarding AssertID, Inc.’s proposal, the commission seeks comment on the
following questions: (i) is this method already covered by existing methods
listed in Section 312.5(b)(1) of the rule; (ii) does the proposed method meet
the requirements for parental consent laid out in 16 C.F.R. § 312.5(b)(1)—is
it reasonably calculated to ensure that the person providing consent is the
child’s parent; and (iii) does the proposed method pose a risk to consumers’
personal information, and if so, is that risk outweighed by the benefit to
consumers and businesses? Comments will be accepted until September 20,
2013. See Federal Register, August 21, 2013.