Markets Wired

CORRECTED: The deadline for comment related to this matter is Dec. 29, 2014. The release previously listed an earlier date.

The Federal Trade Commission is seeking public comment on a proposed verifiable parental consent method that AgeCheq, Inc., has submitted for Commission approval under the agency’s Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule.

Under the rule, online sites and services directed at children under 13, and general audience sites or services that knowingly collect, use, or disclose personal information from children under 13, must obtain permission from a child’s parents before collecting personal information from that child. The rule lays out a number of acceptable methods for gaining parental consent, but also includes a provision allowing interested parties to submit new verifiable parental consent methods to the FTC for approval.

In a Federal Register notice to be published shortly, the FTC is seeking public comment about the proposed AgeCheq verifiable parental consent method.  Specifically, the Commission seeks comments on: whether the proposed method is already covered by the existing methods included in the rule; whether it meets the rule’s requirement that it be reasonably calculated to ensure that the person providing the consent is actually the child’s parent; and whether the program poses a risk to consumers’ information and, if so, whether that risk is outweighed by the benefits of the program. The comment period will last until Dec. 29, 2014.

This is AgeCheq’s second proposed verifiable parental consent method submitted to the Commission. The first is currently under review by the Commission.

NOTE: Publication of this Federal Register notice does not indicate Commission approval of the program. The Commission has 120 days to review proposed verifiable parental consent methods and must set forth its conclusions in writing.

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, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.