COPPA

[X900BTA]

Depending on how the forums shape up with respect to content and images I would like to suggest adding COPPA. I just registered as an 11 year old under "TestAge" (please delete, Rand or Dread) with not only no "sorry, too young" but also no information about site content, or any warnings, etc.

It would suck to see the site get into trouble with the law because t's weren't crossed and i's not dotted and some 10 year old is found on the site by mom and dad who then pull a "fo shame, omg. honey call the lawyer".

In fact, I strongly recommend looking into this and getting it done.

[littlelolligagged]

Good idea.

[EyeKhan]

please define COPPA. I think I know what it means based on cotext, but I like to parse my acronyms. Thanks.

[X900BTA]

http://www.coppa.org/

COPPA - Children's Online Privacy Protection Act


Websites that are collecting information from children under the age of thirteen are required to comply with Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

[EyeKhan]

Yeah. We should do something about that.

[Hazir]

How do we even fall under the definitions of that legislation? We don't target children nor do we have a special children's section.

Also, the only 'personal' information we store is the email and that's only so that the user can retrieve his/her password. I haven't heard any plans to turn this into a mailing list we're going to commercialize.

[RandBlade]

Strange, when I registered it had a simple question, something along the lines of "click here if over the age of 13" and "click here if under the age of 13". That was under pbb though, guess its just not come through correctly on vB but surprised its not vB's default. Hazir I think whether we fall under that legislation or not is moot, I agree we'll almost certainly never get any under-13s here (unless this site becomes a lot more popular). But since its such a simple thing to have the software do for us, no reason why not to.

[LittleFuzzy]

How do we even fall under the definitions of that legislation? We don't target children nor do we have a special children's section.

Doesn't matter, if we're freely accessible and have anything that might be construed as "adult" content on the boards. Something a number of posters have indicated they're dedicated to putting up.

[X900BTA]

How do we even fall under the definitions of that legislation? We don't target children nor do we have a special children's section.

Also, the only 'personal' information we store is the email and that's only so that the user can retrieve his/her password. I haven't heard any plans to turn this into a mailing list we're going to commercialize.

That is true, but the moment you collect some information from a child (intentionally or not, as I understand the COPPA rules) COPPA may apply. Email counts, btw and it counts whether you use it for marketing / mailing lists or not. Storing it, using it to contact memebers, so on. I think we fall outside COPPA only in the sense that we're not a commercial site. I think what I was more getting to is an Age Gate where the site doesn't register you if you're under 13. Still, as Rand said below, COPPA and/or Age Gating the registration process is easy and will prevent any unwarranted problems in the future, especially since we can't know what the site will look like 5 years down the road.

Doesn't matter, if we're freely accessible and have anything that might be construed as "adult" content on the boards. Something a number of posters have indicated they're dedicated to putting up.

That's exactly what made me think of COPPA, though probably I meant Age Gating. Either way, better safe than sorry imo.

[Hazir]

OIC, well I'm all for age-gating.

[Wraith]

COPPA compliance should now be turned on. It was on under phpBB but the setting didn't survive the transition and I never noticed.

[EyeKhan]

COPPA compliance should now be turned on. It was on under phpBB but the setting didn't survive the transition and I never noticed.

Great. So when's the porn start?

[ImAnOgre]

Battle Apple.... good looking outt buddy.

[X900BTA]

Thanks, Ogre. Is the age gating part of COPPA Wraith? I think they go hand in hand, but I forget.