WASHINGTON — Representatives Tim Walberg of Michigan and Laurel Lee of Florida have introduced new federal legislation to strengthen protections for minors online.
The proposal, called the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA 2.0, would update existing internet privacy rules originally passed in 1998. The bill aims to restrict how online platforms collect data from children and teens, prohibit targeted advertising toward users under age 17, and require companies to allow the removal of a minor’s personal information when possible.
According to the lawmakers, current rules no longer match today’s digital environment. They say COPPA 2.0 is designed to give parents stronger tools to help safeguard young users.
Additional elements would close existing loopholes by holding platforms responsible even if they do not confirm a user’s age and limit excessive data collection.