FTC issues modified children's online privacy protection rule

The Federal Trade Commission adopted final amendments to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule that strengthen kids’ privacy protections and give parents greater control over the personal information that websites and online services may collect from children under 13. Among the new rules is an updated definition of an operator to make clear that the rule covers a child-directed site or service that integrates outside services, such as plug-ins or advertising networks, that collect personal information from its visitors. This definition does not extend liability to platforms, such as Google Play (GOOG) or the App Store (AAPL), when such platforms merely offer the public access to child-directed apps.