Court Rules

Privacy Enforcement Tracker

1,285 enforcement actions from 14 federal and state jurisdictions. Every event traced back to its official government source.

1,285

Total Actions

14

Jurisdictions

$35.3B+

Total Fines Tracked

Access this data programmatically:MCP Server API Docs
FTCGuidance

Operators of General Audience and Mixed Audience Sites and Services(Online Service Operators)

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.

LowChildren's Data
FTCGuidance

Website and Online Service Operators(Online Service Operators)

The FTC issued a policy statement announcing it will not enforce COPPA against operators that collect age verification data under specific conditions. The policy aims to encourage the use of age verification technologies to protect children online. Operators must limit data use, ensure security, provide notice, and use accurate verification methods.

LowChildren's DataConsent FailureNotice Failure
FTCSettlement

Disney Worldwide Services, Inc. and Disney Entertainment Operations LLC(Disney)

The FTC settled with Disney for violating the COPPA Rule by mislabeling videos on YouTube, which allowed the collection of children's personal data without parental consent. Disney must pay a $10 million civil penalty and implement measures to ensure proper video labeling and compliance with COPPA.

HighChildren's DataConsent FailureNotice Failure

$10.0M

FTCConsent Decree

Illuminate Education, Inc.(Illuminate Education)

The FTC proposed a consent order against Illuminate Education, Inc. for failing to secure student data, leading to a breach affecting over 10 million students. The company allegedly had security failures and delayed breach notifications. The order requires a data security program, data deletion, and a retention schedule.

LowSecurity FailureBreach Notification DelayStudent Data
FTCEnforcement Action

Iconic Hearts Holdings, Inc.(Iconic Hearts Holdings)

The FTC filed a complaint against Iconic Hearts Holdings, Inc., operator of the Sendit anonymous messaging app, for unlawfully collecting personal data from children in violation of COPPA, misleading users by sending messages from fake personas, and tricking consumers into paid subscriptions by falsely promising to reveal anonymous senders.

LowChildren's Data
FTCInvestigation

Alphabet, Inc.; Character Technologies, Inc.; Instagram, LLC; Meta Platforms, Inc.; OpenAI OpCo, LLC; Snap, Inc.; X.AI Corp.(Alphabet, Character Technologies, Instagram, Meta, OpenAI, Snap, X.AI)

The FTC issued 6(b) orders to seven technology companies to investigate the safety and privacy practices of their AI chatbots, particularly regarding impacts on children and teens. The inquiry focuses on compliance with children's privacy laws, data handling, and disclosures, requiring companies to provide information on these aspects.

LowChildren's DataNotice FailureConsent Failure
FTCConsent Decree

Apitor Technology

The FTC settled allegations against Apitor Technology for violating COPPA by allowing a third party to collect geolocation data from children without parental consent. Apitor must pay a $500,000 suspended fine, delete improperly collected data, and implement measures to comply with COPPA, including obtaining parental consent and notifying parents.

MediumChildren's DataGeolocation DataNotice Failure

$500K

FTCSettlement

Disney Worldwide Services, Inc. and Disney Entertainment Operations LLC(Disney)

The FTC alleges that Disney violated COPPA by failing to properly label children-directed videos on YouTube as 'Made for Kids,' allowing the collection of personal data from children under 13 without parental consent. Disney will pay a $10 million civil penalty and must implement a program to ensure accurate video designations, potentially incorporating age assurance technologies.

HighChildren's DataConsent Failure

$10.0M

FTCEnforcement Action

Disney Worldwide Services(Disney)

The FTC released a statement by Chairman Ferguson, joined by Commissioners Holyoak and Meador, regarding the enforcement action against Disney Worldwide Services for alleged violations of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The statement addresses the case involving children's privacy protections.

MediumChildren's Data
FTCSettlement

COGNOSPHERE LLC(Cognosphere)

The FTC settled with Cognosphere LLC, developer of Genshin Impact, for violating COPPA by collecting personal information from children without parental consent and for deceptive practices regarding in-game loot box purchases. The company will pay $20 million in penalties and is banned from selling loot boxes to children under 16 without verifiable parental consent.

CriticalChildren's DataDark Patterns

$20.0M

FTCConsent Decree

Cognosphere Pte. Ltd and Cognosphere LLC(Cognosphere)

The FTC settled with Cognosphere, the developer of Genshin Impact, for violating COPPA by collecting children's data without parental consent and for using deceptive loot box practices that misled players about costs and odds. Cognosphere will pay a $20 million fine, be banned from selling loot boxes to teens under 16 without parental consent, and must implement various transparency and data deletion measures.

CriticalChildren's DataDark Patterns

$20.0M

FTCGuidance

Major Social Media and Video Streaming Companies (Amazon, Meta, YouTube, X, Snap, TikTok, Discord, Reddit, WhatsApp)(Major Social Media and Video Streaming Companies)

The FTC staff report examined data practices of nine major social media and video streaming companies and found they engaged in vast surveillance of users with lax privacy controls and inadequate safeguards for children and teens. The report recommends limiting data collection, restricting targeted advertising, and strengthening protections for young users, and calls for comprehensive federal privacy legislation.

LowChildren's DataOpt-Out FailureUnauthorized Data Sharing
FTCEnforcement Action

IXL Learning, Inc.(IXL Learning)

The Federal Trade Commission filed an amicus brief in a lawsuit where parents sued IXL Learning for allegedly collecting and selling children's data without proper consent. The FTC argued that under COPPA, school district agreements to arbitration do not bind parents. The brief opposes IXL Learning's attempt to compel arbitration.

LowChildren's Data
FTCEnforcement Action

TikTok and ByteDance(TikTok)

The FTC and DOJ sued TikTok and ByteDance for violating COPPA by collecting personal information from children under 13 without parental consent. The complaint alleges that TikTok knowingly allowed millions of children on its platform and failed to comply with a 2019 consent order. The lawsuit seeks civil penalties and a permanent injunction.

LowChildren's DataConsent FailureNotice Failure
FTCConsent Decree

NGL Labs, LLC(NGL Labs)

NGL Labs, LLC and its founders were sued by the FTC and Los Angeles DA for marketing an anonymous messaging app to children and teens, making false claims about AI content moderation, sending fake messages to boost engagement, and violating COPPA by collecting kids' data without parental consent. They must pay $5 million, with $500,000 as a civil penalty and $4.5 million for consumer redress, and are banned from offering the app to users under 18. The order requires age gates, data deletion, and prohibits false claims about AI and recurring charges.

MediumChildren's Data

$500K

FTCSettlement

NGL

The FTC settled with NGL for deceptively marketing its anonymous messaging app to children and teens, using fake messages to trick users into paid subscriptions without proper consent. The order banned marketing to users under 18 and required $4.5 million in refunds for unauthorized charges.

HighChildren's DataConsent Failure

$4.5M

FTCGuidance

Website and Online Service Operators Covered by COPPA(COPPA-Covered Operators)

The FTC has proposed amendments to the COPPA Rule to enhance children's privacy protections. Key changes include requiring separate parental consent for targeted advertising, prohibiting conditioning access on data collection, limiting push notifications, strengthening data security and retention requirements, and restricting commercial use in educational technology. The proposal shifts responsibility from parents to companies to safeguard children's data.

LowChildren's DataConsent FailureUnauthorized Data Sharing
FTCConsent Decree

Amazon.com, Inc.(Amazon)

The FTC and DOJ charged Amazon with violating COPPA by indefinitely retaining children's Alexa voice recordings and failing to honor parents' deletion requests. Under a proposed consent decree, Amazon must pay $25 million, delete children's data, and implement privacy safeguards.

CriticalChildren's Data

$25.0M

FTCAdministrative Order

Meta

The FTC proposed modifications to its 2020 privacy order with Meta, alleging violations including non-compliance with the order, misleading parents about Messenger Kids, and unauthorized data sharing. The proposed changes include banning monetization of youth data, pausing new product launches, and strengthening privacy requirements.

LowChildren's DataConsent FailureNotice Failure
FTCSettlement

Epic Games, Inc.(Epic Games)

Epic Games, maker of Fortnite, violated children's privacy laws by collecting data from under-13 users without parental consent and used deceptive designs to trick users into unintended purchases. The FTC secured a $275 million civil penalty and $245 million in consumer refunds, with requirements to enhance privacy defaults, delete improperly collected data, implement a privacy program, and prohibit dark patterns and account locking for charge disputes.

CriticalChildren's DataDark Patterns

$275.0M

FTCEnforcement Action

Aristotle International, Inc.(Aristotle)

The FTC removed Aristotle International, Inc. from its list of approved COPPA Safe Harbor programs due to insufficient monitoring of member companies' compliance with COPPA guidelines. This action prevents operators from using Aristotle's program for favorable regulatory treatment and marks the first such removal since COPPA's inception.

LowChildren's Data
FTCConsent Decree

Kuuhuub Inc.(Kuuhuub)

The FTC settled with Kuuhuub Inc., operator of the Recolor coloring book app, for violating COPPA by collecting personal information from children under 13 without parental consent. The app's social media features allowed children to register and share data, and third-party ad networks collected persistent identifiers for targeted ads. The settlement requires deletion of children's data, refunds to underage subscribers, a $3 million penalty (suspended upon $100,000 payment), and user notifications about the violations.

HighChildren's DataNotice FailureConsent Failure

$3.0M

FTCSettlement

Miniclip, S.A.(Miniclip)

The FTC finalized a settlement with Miniclip, S.A. for falsely claiming it was a member of the CARU COPPA safe harbor program. Miniclip is prohibited from misrepresenting its participation in privacy programs and subject to compliance and recordkeeping requirements.

LowChildren's Data
FTCSettlement

HyperBeard, Inc.(HyperBeard)

HyperBeard, Inc., a developer of children's apps, agreed to pay $150,000 and delete personal information it illegally collected from children under 13 to settle FTC allegations that it violated COPPA by allowing third-party ad networks to collect persistent identifiers without parental consent. The settlement requires HyperBeard to obtain verifiable parental consent for future data collection and prohibits using the illegally collected data.

MediumChildren's Data

$150K

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