FTC
Conservative Groups Push for 35% Boost in FTC Funding
The advocacy group leaders highlighted major settlements and accomplishments as reasons for expanding budget.
Social Media
House Panel Advances 18-Bill Kids’ Online Safety Package
Democrats warn the proposals would override stronger state privacy laws.
AI
Panel Weighs New Guardrails for AI Chatbots as Concerns Mount Over Child Safety
Experts debated AI chatbot risks to children, with advocates warning of manipulation techniques while skeptics urged perspective on technology fears.
Public Safety
Regulators, States, Private Sector Urge Solution to Child Safety Online
Two federal efforts aimed at protecting children online have stalled as Congress went on a six-week recess without a vote.
Marsha Blackburn
Senate Commerce Committee Passes Two Bills To Protect Children Online
The bills failed to make headway in a previous Congress.
Justice Department
Charter Chooses Nokia for 5G, Microsoft Children’s Privacy Settlement, FCC Adopts $5M Robocall Fine
Charter has selected Nokia for its 5G rollout.
Privacy
Congress Considers Regulating Data Brokers Amid Broader Push for Privacy Legislation
The $200 billion industry specifically targets children and other vulnerable populations, experts said.
Social Media
Bipartisan Alarm Over Social Media’s Harms to Children Prompts Slew of Proposed Legislation
Bills ranged from addressing intermediary liability to limiting personal data collection.
Privacy
Metaverse Technologies Could Present Unprecedented Risk to Children’s Digital Privacy
Existing digital privacy concerns are amplified in an environment designed to fully immerse users.
FTC
Epic Games Settles with FTC for $520 Million
Epic’s $275 million penalty for alleged COPPA violation is the largest to date, according to the agency.
Privacy
Online Protections for Children Bill Passes Committee Despite Concern over FTC Authority
Opposition to a reformed COPPA include the ability of the FTC to enact broad rule-making.
ITIF
Experts Wrangle Over Whether Online Children Protection Legislation Needs Overhaul
‘We can’t keep overhauling the regulatory structure.’
FTC
FTC Approves Policy Statement on Guiding Review of Children’s Online Protection
The policy statement provides the guiding principles for which the FTC will review the collection and use of children’s data online.
Privacy
Senator Markey Pleased with Pressure on Companies to Protect Children Online
Senator Edward Markey has been a proponent of increasing the age group in child privacy laws for years.
China
WaPo Huawei Investigation, New Mexico Google Settlements, DHS Bug Bounty Program
New documents allegedly reveal Huawei is more involved with Chinese surveillance than previously known.
COVID
House Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone Calls for Update to Children’s Privacy Legislation
March 11, 2021 – House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., on Thursday called for an update to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act at subcommittee hearing on “Kids Online During COVID: Child Safety in an Increasingly Digital Age.” “The challenges children face onli
