On February 25, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released an important children’s privacy enforcement discretion statement: COPPA – Enforcement Policy Statement Promoting the Adoption of Age-Verification Technology. Age verification of minors is an increasingly hot topic in children’s privacy law, as several states recently adopted laws requiring companies to conduct age verification before
As we discussed in Part 1 of this series, while the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) remains the primary federal law protecting children’s online privacy, there is a growing patchwork of state laws aimed at protecting both children and teens online. These laws identify a variety of potential harms, but many of them expand
As we look back at key privacy developments during 2025, one thing is clear: it was all about kids and teens. That trend seems likely to continue in 2026. The problem is, while there are very real concerns about the impact of online content and social media engagements on young people, legislative solutions – well-intentioned
In the midst of the busiest shopping season of the year, Federal Trade Commission (FTC or Commission) staff reminded companies of their obligations under the Rule on the Use of Consumer Reviews and Testimonials (Consumer Review Rule). On December 22, 2025, the FTC announced that staff had sent letters to ten companies warning that they
On November 3, 2025, the New York Attorney General announced a $1.1 million settlement with the U.S. subsidiary of the world’s largest beef producer, ending the state’s lawsuit accusing the company of misleading the public about its environmental practices and sustainability commitments. The complaint, filed in February 2024 in New York state court, alleged
State legislatures have continued to enact privacy laws aimed at protecting kids and teens despite significant—and often successful—legal challenges that largely focus on First Amendment flaws. Some laws have recently gone into effect, or will become effective soon, while others are not slated to take effect until 2027. The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
On October 2, 2025, after the federal government shut down, the Senate received President Trump’s nomination for a new commissioner at the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC or Commission)—William “Billy” Hewes III, former mayor of Gulfport, Mississippi. This recent nomination came as a surprise, since for the last few months, it was not clear if
Businesses making negative option or auto-renewal subscription offers, beware: Federal Trade Commission (FTC or Commission) enforcement is alive and well in 2025. Although the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit struck down the FTC’s much-criticized Biden-era “click to cancel” rule earlier this summer, on September 25, 2025 the FTC announced that Amazon.com, Inc.
The latest development in the ongoing legal saga regarding the scope of presidential authority to fire officials at various independent federal agencies occurred on September 22, 2025, when the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS or the Court) granted a stay of the reinstatement of Rebecca Slaughter, a former commissioner at the Federal Trade
Google and two Disney companies recently settled lawsuits alleging that the companies violated children’s privacy laws, once again demonstrating a heightened interest in protecting children online and putting content creators and channel owners on notice that they will be subject to strict liability for violations of federal and state privacy laws. On August 18, 2025
