COPPA or no COPPA????

[TechTalk]

Whats the status on this coppa junk? I have heard rumors that it was overruled and I was just wondering if their was any truth behind this.

Id like to disable it on my site if at all possible

~Chris
http://www.extremeforums.com

[thetakerfan]

I don't use it, regardless, because I don't ask any personal information, and quite frankly I think the law is ridulous, when I was 12-13, I was already using the internet to make money, design websites, etc, and this law is a joke

but to answer your question, I *THINK* that there was a court injunction, but those are only temporary

[Martin]

actually, COPPA is still in effect. The injuction was aggainst COPA, a different rule that applies to porn sites.

I don't use COPPA, either. Just make sure to spell it out in your rules that the board is not intended for those less than 13 years of age and you're pretty well covered. If you *do* get in trouble, just point at the ruling that allows porn sites to use a similar disclaimer:)

[eva2000]

nah i don't use COPPA either, it confuses some potential members... it confused my sister when see tried to sign up for a vbulletin and she's 21 yrs old !

[Lissy]

My site is specifically for kids under 13. Am I gonna get in trouble if I disable COPPA?

Lissa
http://www.lissaexplains.com

[Martin]

that's a good question...

I would think that you would, though I can't say for sure. You're not collecting any personal identifiable information, are you? Or selling e-mail addresses? Or sending out e-mail advertising to your users?

[Lissy]

Nope.

[Martin]

then I wouldn't sweat it. just make sure you have a privacy policy that explains it:)

[Mike Sullivan]

You're not collecting any personal identifiable information, are you?Unfortunately, according to COPPA an email address falls under this section.

[thetakerfan]

in all honesty, I haven't heard of this law really being enforced at all, I haven't heard of any people getting in trouble because of it, but just to cover your ass, I would add a tiny little line at the end of the sign up terms that says if you are under 13 to click here, which would send them to the COPPA sign up

[eva2000]

but doesn't the adult sign up page have a link there already ? i saw in on my test forum

[thetakerfan]

oh I don't know, I didn't look on my forum, and I've never looked before, it probably does though, my site is down at the moment anyway. If it does, then I don't see why there should be a problem to begin with.

[thetakerfan]

it sure does eva
"Note: By pressing the button you declare that you are over the age of 13. If you are 13 or under, please use this registration form."

Since thats there I see no problem with it not being activated through the CP, since it is in the terms right there

[NetFXMedia]

A friend of mine got reported who runs a big chat and board network for kids through adults. The bbb saw his site and threatened to report him to the government if he didnt make his site "coppa-compliant". The COPPA law also says, that you must prevent users under 13 from giving out any identifyable information, that includes what they post on the message boards. If they post their email or name on your boards, guess who's at fault, not little tommy, you are. I run several sites for teenagers and after reading the emails my friend got, and reading the entire law, I completely closed my site to under 13. I put all this in the privacy policy and rules and legal pages, so it wont keep too many out, it will just protect you legally. I mean, how many kids are going to read the privacy policy or rules and abide by them.

[Lissy]

So far I've been using the COPPA option, but most of the kids lie about their ages. THEN they post on the forum that they're 11 or 12 grrrrrrrrrrrr. I hate having to police the forum and look for kids who aren't supposed to use it :(

Lissa
http://www.lissaexplains.com

[NetFXMedia]

I don't think its your responcibilty legally if they lie about their age and breach your terms of service.

[thetakerfan]

its not, you can not be held liable if they are untruthful
its in the terms of service, so you don't need to have COPPA active. Towards the bottom of the terms it states that if you are under 13 you have to click here to register, which is the COPPA registration page. So if they don't read the terms, its not your fault

[ManoOne]

Well I was working on a site for a client and they wanted a message board system. Atthat time I didn'tknow vBulletin and I was installing UBBs...

Inthe middle of the project, the client dropped a partof the project, because of this COPPA thing....

Just to say I think it seems to be the regulation now...

the client site is http://www.wholetruth.com it is the new florida TRUTH anti tobacco campaign. The client was the government / state of florida.

[thetakerfan]

well, if you are a state government site, then I would say you must use it, but for individual sites like most of ours its fine not to have it activated
and besides, the newest UBB has COPPA in it

and I would like to say that I think the whole Truth thing, namely the commercials, are completely retarded

[jamesglewisf]

I hate to bump this thread back up, but I thought COPPA was for commercial sites. That's what it says here (http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1999/9910/childfinal.htm). My site is not commercial at all. I don't have a company, and I don't sell anything. Am I correct in assuming that COPPA doesn't apply to me?

[thetakerfan]

well, I don't know, but I can tell you that I do not use it

[jamesglewisf]

Today, I read another document (http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buspubs/coppa.htm). This second document says If you operate a commercial Web site or an online service directed to children under 13 that collects personal information from children or if you operate a general audience Web site and have actual knowledge that you are collecting personal information from children, you must comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act.
So, I'm adding COPPA back to my site.

BTW, IMO vBulletin might consider placing this new link in future versions of vBulletin instead of or in addition to that other link. It seems much more informative than the one they currently provide on the admin screen.