Vol. 78 Thursday, No. 12 January 17, 2013 Part II Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR Part 312 Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule; Final Rule VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:21 Jan 16, 2013 Jkt 229001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4717 Sfmt 4717 E:\FR\FM\17JAR2.SGM 17JAR2pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with 3972 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 12 / Thursday, January 17, 2013 / Rules and Regulations 12011 NPRM, 76 FR 59804, available at http:// ftc.gov/os/2011/09/110915coppa.pdf. 22012 SNPRM, 77 FR 46643, available at http:// ftc.gov/os/2012/08/120801copparule.pdf. 3See 16 CFR 312.3. 4See 16 CFR 312.7 and 312.8. 5See 16 CFR 312.10. 6See Request for Public Comment on the Federal Trade Commission’s Implementation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule (‘‘2010 FRN’’), 75 FR 17089 (Apr. 5, 2010). 7Id. 8Information about the June 2010 public roundtable is located at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/ workshops/coppa/index.shtml. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION 16 CFR Part 312 RIN 3084–AB20 Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule AGENCY : Federal Trade Commission (‘‘FTC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’). ACTION : Final rule amendments. SUMMARY : The Commission amends the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule (‘‘COPPA Rule’’ or ‘‘Rule’’), consistent with the requirements of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, to clarify the scope of the Rule and strengthen its protections for children’s personal information, in light of changes in online technology since the Rule went into effect in April 2000. The final amended Rule includes modifications to the definitions of operator, personal information, and Web site or online service directed to children. The amended Rule also updates the requirements set forth in the notice, parental consent, confidentiality and security, and safe harbor provisions, and adds a new provision addressing data retention and deletion. DATES : The amended Rule will become effective on July 1, 2013. ADDRESSES : The complete public record of this proceeding will be available at www.ftc.gov. Requests for paper copies of this amended Rule and Statement of Basis and Purpose (‘‘SBP’’) should be sent to: Public Reference Branch, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Room 130, Washington, DC 20580. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT : Phyllis H. Marcus or Mamie Kresses, Attorneys, Division of Advertising Practices, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20580, (202) 326–2854 or (202) 326–2070. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION : Statement of Basis and Purpose I. Overview and Background A. Overview This document states the basis and purpose for the Commission’s decision to adopt certain amendments to the COPPA Rule that were proposed and published for public comment on September 27, 2011 (‘‘2011 NPRM’’), 1 and supplemental amendments that were proposed and published for public comment on August 6, 2012 (‘‘2012 SNPRM’’). 2After careful review and consideration of the entire rulemaking record, including public comments submitted by interested parties, and based upon its experience in enforcing and administering the Rule, the Commission has determined to adopt amendments to the COPPA Rule. These amendments to the final Rule will help to ensure that COPPA continues to meet its originally stated goals to minimize the collection of personal information from children and create a safer, more secure online experience for them, even as online technologies, and children’s uses of such technologies, evolve. The final Rule amendments modify the definitions of operator to make clear that the Rule covers an operator of a child-directed site or service where it integrates outside services, such as plug- ins or advertising networks, that collect personal information from its visitors; Web site or online service directed to children to clarify that the Rule covers a plug-in or ad network when it has actual knowledge that it is collecting personal inf