Are Websites Collecting Info on Kids Without Parental Consent?
- Posted on August 23, 2012 at 8:18am by
Liz Klimas
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A coalition of children’s advocacy groups is accusing several websites geared toward children — among them McDonald’s, General Mills and Cartoon Network — of “unfair and deceptive marketing” and collecting information on those under 13 without parental consent.
(Image: TrixWorld screenshot)
The coalition led by the Center for Digital Democracy made a formal complaint to the Federal Trade Commission Wednesday accusing six websites of violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, which requires parental consent before information is collected on a visitor under the age of 13.
Those included in the complaint are McDonald’s HappyMeal.com, General Mills’ ReesesPuffs.com and TrixWorld.com, Doctor’s Associates SubwayKids.com, Viacom’s Nick.com, and Turner Broadcastings CartoonNetwork.com. The issue taken with these sites, according to the Center for Digital Democracy, was marketing that involved “tell-a-friend“ or ”refer-a-friend,” which in turn encouraged children to share their friend’s email addresses.
Georgetown Law professor Angela Campbell called it in a statement “very troubling” that these websites were collecting email addresses in this manner and noted that she considers this “commercial exploitation of children.”
The New York Times reports several of the accused websites noting the importance of online privacy and stating they believe they are in compliance with the law:
In an e-mail, Tom Forsythe, a spokesman for General Mills, said the company followed approved practices. It does not collect the original child’s e-mail address and sends only one e-mail to that child’s friend, he said.
In an e-mail, James Anderson, a spokesman for Turner, said the Cartoon Network took compliance with the children’s online privacy law seriously and would review any accusations closely. A spokesman for Subway said the company takes online privacy seriously and complies with the law.
Still, what the coalition calls for, in addition to an investigation into these accusations by the FTC, are additional regulations to be added to the law regarding targeting children and data collection. The Times explains the group wants protection to include regulations on cookies and other tracking codes that could collect data of online movements.
The coalition also takes issue with the use of children’s photographs on the Web posted without parental permission.
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LTinUT
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 5:10pmThey can collect generic traffic information (how many pages viewed, etc.) but it becomes ‘personal’ only if you explicitly GIVE the site your personal information! Any parent that gives children unrestricted and unsupervised access to the Internet are irresponsible, unfit parents. Just sayin’.
Report Post »Balpit
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 11:43amI see a poll on the Trix website:
Question! Which one of the following animals is your favorite?
Dog
Cat
Hamster
…Child exploitation at its worst.
Seriously, though, NEVER let your kids go online unsupervised. Parental controls are not foolproof. If you have kids, make sure your internet services require a password so they can’t get on without your permission.
Report Post »Redwood Elf
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 12:02pmUnless they have the Trix Rabbit saying “Hey Kids! Find your Mommy’s checkbook and type in the number at the bottom for a free prize!” I wouldn’t worry much about it.
Report Post »JEANNIEMAC
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 10:44amhttp://www.ehow.com/how_7477352_block-tracking-software.html
Report Post »Check out this site. Find out how to block the trackers.
SCREW-WINDOWS
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 8:40amWith or without permission they will still collect info it’s up to you to prove they did.
Report Post »JRook
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 9:37amDon’t know Liz, does the the blaze have a policy regarding exempting youth from the 22+ third party tracking cookies that are loaded on this site. You know the companies that pay you for the profiling information that is captured.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 8:39amWell, duh! What a surprise!
NOT.
Report Post »BryanB
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 8:38amIf parents are going to let their kids on the internet unsupervised, then your going to have problems. And I don’t care what law you have in place.
It’s up to the parents to protect their children, even from bad business practices………
Report Post »randy
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 8:34amGeorge Soros has his name on everything doesn’t he?
This is the idea that folks like Mr. Soros are merely selfless benefactors of truth and justice, but companies trying to protect their rights in Washington are greedy special interests. The hedge-fund operator made his money practicing capitalism but now he spends it trying to give himself and his ideological allies an advantage over other voices. Among his fundees in this case are four, closely coordinated groups. The men who founded or run them are known in the Beltway as “the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse,” after what they are always claiming will happen if some market is deregulated.
They are the Media Access Project, the Consumers Union, the Consumer Federation of America, and the Center for Media Education (which has morphed into the Center for Digital Democracy). Don’t be fooled by their consumer-friendly names. All four organizations have long been mouthpieces of the liberal wing of the Democratic Party.
Back in 2001……..
Report Post »The Center for Digital Democracy, meanwhile, has sued to block the FCC’s new broadband rules that would free fast Internet access from crushing regulations. The Center is run by Jeff Chester, who spun it off from the Center for Media Education. CME received a $90,000 donation from Mr. Soros in 2001-02.
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 8:23amHere is my view – if the group has hard information of criminal and civil law violations; then turn them over to the authorities who can deal with the matter. Do so and let justice be had,.
Report Post »woodyee
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 8:22amYes. They’re collecting info on EVERYBODY.
Report Post »grayling646
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 8:28amDamn!!! You beat me to it.
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 10:09amIt is stunning the information people freely give about themselves.
Report Post »POPTARTMONKEY
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 10:22amthe way i see it, if everybody gives up info freely, will they be able to arrest all of us? we can just say were illegals. thatyl stop them.
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