The FTC has announced\u00a0that it has updated its COPPA\u00a0compliance plan\u00a0for businesses to make inescapably clear that internet-enabled toys and other \u201cinternet of things\u201d (IoT) devices that collect personal information from children may be subject to COPPA. In agreement, the FBI issued a public service\u00a0announcement\u00a0warning parents that connected toys \u201ccould put the privacy and safety of children at risk due to the large amount of personal information that may be unwittingly disclosed.\u201d<\/p>\n
As the federal government addresses security issues from the broader realm of smart devices, these announcements suggest that connected toys will engender particular scrutiny given the sensitivity of children\u2019s data. At one level, the FTC\u2019s modified compliance plan broke no new ground. Although COPPA was adopted long before the proliferation of connected toys, it applies not only to websites but also to \u201conline services.\u201d<\/p>\n According to the FBI, the \u201cexposure of such information could create opportunities for child identity fraud. Additionally, the potential misuse of sensitive data such as GPS location information, visual identifiers from pictures or videos, and known interests to garner trust from a child could present exploitation risks.\u201d The FBI\u00a0explained\u00a0that data could be exposed if the toy manufacturer, the technology developer, a cloud service provider, or another third-party partner fails to properly protect it.<\/p>\n The FBI urges parents to research connected toys before purchasing them to learn of any known security issues, to closely monitor children\u2019s use of such toys, and to follow good security practices, such as ensuring that the toys are running updated firmware and that they are turned off when not in use. As for legal protections, the FBI noted that smart toys must comply with COPPA and Section 5 of the\u00a0Federal Trade Commission Act.<\/p>\n Read full article and learn more about COPPA here<\/a>.<\/p>\n By now it should be clear how important it is for you to be FTC compliant. But how can you do that without spending $7,500-$8,000 or more on Internet Attorneys?<\/p>\n Smart business owners around the world are doing it with the help of FTC Guardian.<\/p>\n FTC Guardian is a service that is 100% focused on helping to keep you get and stay FTC compliant and fully protected.\u00a0And right now, we are offering a free training to give you the knowledge, information, and guidance that you need to stay out of trouble with the Federal Trade Commission.<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"\/images\/button_banner-Big_Data_Report.png\")
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