The FTC issued a policy statement announcing that it will not enforce the COPPA Rule against website and online service operators that use age verification technologies solely to determine user age, provided they comply with conditions such as limiting data use, ensuring security, and providing clear notice. This policy aims to incentivize age verification tools to protect children online.
Operators must not use age verification data for any other purpose, retain it only as necessary, disclose it only to secure third parties, provide clear notice to parents and children, employ reasonable security safeguards, and ensure the age verification method is accurate.
In-house legal teams should review vendor agreements for age verification services, customer terms of service for websites using such tools, and data processing addendums. Focus on clauses defining data collection purposes, ensuring age data is used solely for age determination without secondary uses like marketing. Examine data sharing restrictions, security obligations (e.g., encryption), notice provisions informing users about age verification, and data retention schedules. Contracts may need amendments to explicitly limit age data use, enhance security requirements, and update privacy notices to reflect COPPA-compliant age verification practices.
Entity
Operators of General Audience and Mixed Audience Sites and Services
Also known as: Online Service Operators
Industry
TechnologyOfficial Press Release
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/02/ftc-issues-coppa-policy-statement-incentivize-use-age-verification-technologies-protect-children
childrens online privacy protection rule coppa
https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/rules/childrens-online-privacy-protection-rule-coppa
age verification workshop
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/events/2026/01/age-verification-workshop
enforcement policy statement promoting adoption age verifica
https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/enforcement-policy-statement-promoting-adoption-age-verification-technology
Federal Trade Commission Enforcement Page
https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement
"operators of general audience sites and services and mixed audience sites and services"
"Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)"
"COPPA Rule"
"collecting, using, or disclosing personal information collected from a child under 13"
$750K
The FTC finalized an order against Vanilla Chip LLC (doing business as TruHeight) and its principals for deceptively advertising height-enhancing supplements for children and teens without scientific evidence. The company also used fake reviews and incentivized 5-star ratings. The order requires a $750,000 payment and prohibits false health claims and deceptive review practices.
$2.3M
The FTC alleged that RentGrow, a tenant screening company, violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) by failing to use reasonable procedures to ensure the accuracy of its reports, including by reporting duplicate records and failing to disclose data sources. RentGrow agreed to pay a $2.25 million penalty and is prohibited from further FCRA violations and from misrepresenting dispute outcomes.
The FTC and New York Attorney General took action against Handy Technologies for deceptive earnings claims and failure to disclose fees and fines that led to millions of dollars being withheld from workers' wages. The FTC is sending over $2.7 million in refunds to 62,893 affected consumers.
$35.0M
The FTC alleged that Hopper, a travel booking app, charged consumers hidden and pre-selected fees (Tip and VIP Support) without their consent, misrepresented the benefits of VIP Support and Price Freeze services, and failed to clearly disclose total prices. Hopper agreed to pay $35 million for consumer redress and is prohibited from misrepresenting fees under a proposed order.
$1.5M
The FTC finalized a settlement with Publishing.com LLC and its principals for misleading consumers about potential earnings from self-publishing products. The company will pay $1.5 million and is prohibited from making unsubstantiated earnings claims, failing to disclose refund terms, and misrepresenting endorsements and reviews.
The FTC is seeking public comment on a proposed policy statement addressing concerns that AI companies may be manipulating AI system outputs contrary to consumer expectations for objectivity and accuracy. The statement explains that such conduct could be considered deceptive under Section 5 of the FTC Act. The public comment period runs until July 31, 2026.