What is COPPA?

Children Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) is a U.S. federal law that regulates how websites, online services, apps, and digital platforms collect, use, and disclose the personal information of children under the age of 13.

The Children Online Privacy Protection Act requires operators of child-directed services, or services that knowingly collect data from children, to provide clear privacy notices, obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting personal information, and maintain reasonable safeguards for that data. While COPPA is a U.S. law, organizations worldwide may need to comply if they offer online services to children in the United States.

How does it work?

The Children Online Privacy Protection Act establishes rules for collecting children’s personal information online. Before gathering data such as names, email addresses, precise geolocation, photos, or persistent identifiers used for tracking, covered organizations must notify parents about their data practices and obtain verifiable parental consent.

Organizations must also limit data collection to what is reasonably necessary, allow parents to review or delete their child’s information, and maintain appropriate security measures throughout the data lifecycle. Failure to comply can result in regulatory enforcement and financial penalties.

Children Online Privacy Protection Act vs GDPR-K

The Children Online Privacy Protection Act specifically governs online data collection from children under 13 in the United States. By contrast, the children’s provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR-K) apply across the European Union and generally allow member states to set the digital age of consent between 13 and 16.

Organizations serving global audiences may need to comply with both frameworks. Understanding the differences helps businesses implement appropriate consent mechanisms and privacy controls across regions.

How Hexnode supports Children Online Privacy Protection Act

Hexnode helps organizations strengthen privacy and security practices that support compliance initiatives involving managed endpoints. Through Unified Endpoint Management (UEM), administrators can enforce device security policies, control application deployments, monitor compliance status, manage updates, and restrict unauthorized access to sensitive information.

For organizations operating educational environments or managing employee devices that access children’s information, centralized endpoint visibility and policy enforcement help reduce security risks while supporting broader privacy and governance objectives.

When should organizations use it?

Organizations should evaluate their obligations under the Children Online Privacy Protection Act when they develop websites, mobile apps, educational platforms, connected devices, or online services that target children under 13 or knowingly collect their personal information.

Building COPPA requirements into product design from the outset helps reduce compliance risks, improve transparency with parents, and establish stronger privacy practices that scale as digital services evolve.