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The Federal Trade Commission has extended until December 23, 2011, the deadline for the public to submit comments on proposed amendments to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule, which gives parents control over what personal information websites and online services may collect from children under 13. In September, the FTC announced that it was proposing amendments to ensure that the Rule continues to protect children’s privacy as online technologies evolve, with comments due by November 28, 2011. Citing the nature and complexity of the questions and issues raised by the proposed amendments, a number of organizations requested that the Commission extend the comment deadline.

The Commission vote to extend the deadline to December 23, 2011 was 4-0.

To file a comment online, write “COPPA Rule Review, 16 CFR Part 312, Project No. P-104503” on the comment, and follow the instructions on the web-based form found at: https://ftcpublic.commentworks.com/ftc/2011copparulereview. To file comments on paper, mail or deliver them to: Federal Trade Commission, Office of the Secretary, Room H-113 (Annex E) 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call
1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 2,000 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s website provides free information on a variety of consumer topics. Like the FTC on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.