FTC Draws Praise from Barton, CU for COPPA Proposals

But Barton pushes for even stronger measures, including his kids do not track bill

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 8/1/2012 3:25:10 PM

The Federal Trade Commission had some fans Wednesday of its proposal to tighten/clarify the application of Child Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) rules to third parties, including advertisers.

Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), a longtime champion for child online protections, including no tracking of kids online, called the FTC's proposed changes an "important step toward protecting kids online."

But Barton clearly saw it as the beginning of a journey rather than a destination in itself.

"These proposed changes to COPPA are a step in the right direction, but I believe that our children need stronger protections included in the Do Not Track Kids Act, a bill I have introduced with my friend [Rep. Ed] Markey. As cochair of the Bi-Partisan Privacy Caucus [Markey is the other co-chair], I will continue to stress the importance of allowing consumers to have control over their personal information, and I hope that more of my colleagues will join me in this effort."

Consumers Union, which has also pushed for more online protections, praised the move. "Today's announcement gives more clarity to website operators and third party information collectors, including Facebook, plugins, or advertisers, regarding their responsibilities under COPPA," the group said. "It is critical that website operators and third party advertisers alike are held to the same standards when it comes to protecting our children online. This proposal makes it clear to industry partners that protecting children's online privacy is a shared priority."