Internet Acts Cipa 2000 and Coppa 1998

BISS/220 April 2012

Information Technology Acts Paper

Children's Online Privacy Protection Act 1998 (COPPA) effective April 21, 2000, applies to the online collection of personal information by persons or individuals under U.S. jurisdiction from children under 13 years of age. It itemizes what a website operator must include in a privacy policy, when and how to seek confirmable consent from a parent or guardian, and what obligations an operator has to protect children's privacy and safety online including boundaries on the marketing to those under 13. This legislation flourished out of the fact that by 1998 generally ten million American children had log on to the internet, and at the same time, research indicated that children were unable to comprehend the potential effects of uncovering their personal information online, and parents neglected to monitor their children's use of the internet. The pursuing of children by marketers resulted in the release of large amounts of private information into the market and prompted the need for regulation. Operators of such sites who have actual awareness of children using their sites must abide by the act's regulations. Attaining a signed form from the parent via postal mail or exact copy; accepting and verifying a credit card number; taking calls from parents on a toll-free telephone number staffed by trained personnel; email accompanied by digital signature; email accompanied by a PIN or password attained through one of the verification methods.

Children's Internet Protection Act 2000(CIPA) effective December 21, 2000, characterizes in hopes of regulating, not eliminating, students' access to social networking and chat room sites. CIPA is one of a bill that the United States Congress proposed to limit children's exposure to pornography and explicit content online. A technology protection measure must be utilized, during any use of computers by minors. The law also put in order for the school or library to disable the technology protection during use by an adult, to enable access for valid research or other lawful purpose. E-rate program is a program that makes certain communications technology more affordable for eligible schools and libraries. Schools and libraries are compelled to certify that they have their safety policies and technology in standing before receiving E-rate funding, access by minors to inappropriate matter on the internet; the safety and security of minors when using electronic mail, chat rooms and other forms of direct electronic communications; unauthorized access, including so-called "hacking," and other unlawful activities by minors online; unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal information regarding minors; and measures restricting minors' access to materials harmful to them. In this legislation, all internet access must be