Congressman Tim Walberg | Rep. Tim Walberg Official U.S House Headshot
Congressman Tim Walberg | Rep. Tim Walberg Official U.S House Headshot
Reps. Tim Walberg (R-MI) and Kathy Castor (D-FL) have introduced the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0), a bipartisan effort to modernize and strengthen the existing online privacy law for children, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The new bill aims to address the pressing need for enhanced protections for children and teenagers facing online threats in the digital age.
Rep. Walberg emphasized the importance of updating the law to protect vulnerable youth, stating, "Children and teens are facing unprecedented pressure and manipulation online, resulting in a youth mental health crisis." He acknowledged the evolving privacy risks targeting children in today's rapidly changing online landscape and highlighted the necessity for stronger data protections.
Rep. Kathy Castor echoed these sentiments, pointing out the need to address excessive data collection and surveillance of young people by Big Tech platforms. She emphasized that COPPA 2.0 would strengthen protections related to the online collection, use, and disclosure of personal information of children and minors up to age 16, while also banning harmful targeted advertising.
Senator Edward J. Markey expressed his support for the bill, describing it as a critical moment for kids, teens, and parents across the country. He emphasized the bipartisan nature of COPPA 2.0 and called for the passage of online privacy legislation to protect young people from the tracking and targeting practices of Big Tech platforms.
Dr. Cassidy commended the introduction of COPPA 2.0, highlighting the importance of updating rules to keep children and teenagers safe online. He praised the bill for prohibiting internet companies from collecting personal information on young teenagers without consent, providing parents with peace of mind.
Key provisions of COPPA 2.0 include prohibiting internet companies from collecting personal information from users aged 13 to 16 without their consent, banning targeted advertising to children and teens, revising COPPA’s standards to address loopholes, establishing an "Eraser Button" for users to delete personal information, and implementing data minimization rules.
The bill has garnered support from over 80 organizations and was introduced in the Senate by Senators Markey and Cassidy, receiving unanimous approval from the Senate Commerce Committee in July 2023. The full text of the bill can be accessed online for further details on the proposed legislative changes.
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