| The iWatchDog
Program, is quite strict about the guidelines set for the
International Content Certification Standard™, (ICCS™),
of web sites, products, services, and privacy statements. We fight for the rights of online safety,
privacy and security on the Internet. The iWatchDog program™
is the Internationally recognized source for providing online
safety, security and protection of privacy for Internet users
via ICCS™ Certification and remaining consistent with US and
EU standards. While there is no absolute solution to
being compliant with all government standards, we can help you
to be confident that your web site is consistent as possible
withUS and EU regulations.
The guidelines you will read
below are a basic portion of the entire iWatchDog™ Program Content Policy Guidelines and are set
for your benefit as well as all others who use the net.
We strongly suggest you read
the entire Content Policy
Guidelines.
Visit
http://www.ftc.gov/ogc/coppa1.htm to view COPPA document.
WEB SITE
CERTIFICATION GUIDELINES
The web site must be using an
ICCS™ Certified Voluntary Rating System such as
SafeSurf and the rating/labeling must be consistent with the
content of the web site. SafeSurf is the default standard but
ICRA is also ICCS Certified.
COPPA COMPLIANCY FOR
WEBSITE OPERATORS
Websites directed to
children or that knowingly collect information from kids under
13 must post a notice of their information collection
practices that includes:
-
types of
personal information they collect from kids-for example,
name, home address, email address or hobbies.
-
how the site
will use the information - for example, to market to the
child who supplied the information, to notify contest
winners or to make the information available through a
child's participation in a chat room.
-
whether
personal information is forwarded to advertisers or other
third parties.
-
a contact at
the site.
There is an exception to the
rule as follows:
PARENTAL CONSENT MUST BE OBTAINED
In many cases, a site must obtain parental
consent before collecting, using or disclosing personal
information about a child.
Consent is not
required when a site is collecting an email address to:
-
respond to a
one-time request from the child.
-
provide
notice to the parent.
-
ensure the
safety of the child or the site.
-
send a
newsletter or other information on a regular basis as long
as the site notifies a parent and gives them a chance to say
no to the arrangement.
OBTAIN NEW CONSENT WHEN INFORMATION
PRACTICES CHANGE
Website operators need to notify parents and
get consent again if they plan to change the kinds of
information they collect, change how they use the information
or offer the information to new and different third parties.
For example, new parental consent would be required if the
website decides to:
- send information from
children to marketers of furniture instead of only marketers
of stuffed animals, as covered in the original consent.
- give a child access to a
chat room if the parent's original consent covered only
sending a newsletter.
ALLOW PARENTS
TO REVIEW PERSONAL INFORMATION COLLECTED FROM THEIR CHILDREN
Website operators must allow parents to view
any and all personal information collected from their
children. To do this, website operators must verify the
identity of the requesting parent.
ALLOW PARENTS
TO REVOKE THEIR CONSENT
Website operators must allow
parents to revoke their consent, and delete all
information collected from their children at the parents'
request. When a parent revokes consent, the website must
stop collecting, using or disclosing information from that
child. The site may end a child's participation in an activity
if the information it collected was necessary for
participation in the website's activity.
MISCELLANEOUS
The web site as
well as ALL links associated with the web site must contain no
content that would be considered "offensive" to any
member of the family on the average.
Last Updated:
Tuesday, November 25, 2003 |
