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)
Google Settles Children’s Privacy Class Action Lawsuit; Disney Settles DOJ Lawsuit and Faces Class Action
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…
KOSA is Back and Still Controversial
On May 14, 2025, the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), SB 1748, was reintroduced for the fourth time by original sponsor Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), joined by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), John Thune (R-SD), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY). First introduced in 2022, and then again in 2023 and 2024, KOSA imposes a duty of care on…
FTC Finalizes Updates to Children’s Privacy Rule…Again
After a period of regulatory review under Chairman Andrew Ferguson, on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) published amendments to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) Rule (COPPA Rule or the Rule), which was last updated in 2013. As we reported earlier this year, the FTC finalized its most recent…
KOSA and COPPA 2.0 Voted Out of the Senate
As widely predicted, on July 30, 2024, the Senate passed the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) in a bipartisan vote of 91-3. Echoing criticism from both civil liberties groups and industry, Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), Mike Lee (R-UT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) voted no…
Video Game Developer Settles Alleged Violations of Federal and State Privacy Laws Governing Children’s Data
On June 18, 2024, the California Attorney General (AG) and Los Angeles City Attorney jointly announced that video game developer and publisher Tilting Point Media LLC (Tilting Point) agreed to a $500,000 settlement for violations of the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), and California Unfair Competition Law (UCL) based…
Children’s Online Privacy: KOSA and COPPA Updates
As expected, Congress’ renewed focus on expanding protections for minors online has resulted in legislative developments that attempt to mitigate harms while adhering to the Constitution’s free speech and preemption parameters. Last month, updates to both the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) 2.0 bills were released…
Children’s Online Privacy: History, Debates, and Current Legislative Developments
During 2023, legislative, congressional, and executive actions aimed at protecting children and teens online took center stage. Such actions included: legislative attempts to raise the age of a “child” at both the federal and state levels for advertising and privacy purposes; bans on behavioral advertising targeting minors; efforts to restrict access to social media by…
FTC Approves NPR Updating the COPPA Rule
On December 20, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC or Commission) finally published its long-awaited proposed Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR) updating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act Rule (COPPA Rule). Find out more here.
CA Court Blocks Enforcement of Controversial Children’s Online Privacy Law
On September 18, 2023, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California granted a preliminary injunction to NetChoice, a tech umbrella group, against California Attorney General Rob Bonta from enforcing the California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act (CAADCA). The court found the CAADCA, which was slated to take effect on July 1, 2024…