FC: Congress passes privacy law, kids lose free email accounts

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,34453,00.html

                       Time Running Out on Kid Email
                       by Lynn Burke

                       3:00 a.m. 29.Feb.2000 PST
                       Kids who have email accounts sure do
                       cause a lot of problems.

                       The day is quickly approaching when
                       online services and Web sites must obtain
                       parental consent before they can obtain
                       and use a child's personal information.

                       And companies that provide free email
                       services are scrambling to figure how
                       they can bring their kiddie accounts into
                       compliance with the new law.

                       In October 1998, Congress passed the
                       Children's Online Privacy Protection Act
                       (COPPA). It says that as of 21 April, Web
                       sites must get a parents' consent before
                       they can collect, use, or disclose
                       personal information from children under
                       13.

                       At least one email service has solved the
                       problem by dumping all the accounts it
                       has with children under 13 years of age.

                       NBCi, which now owns and operates free
                       email services snap.com and email.com,
                       sent an email out to its members in
                       January about the company's decision.

                       ...

                       Alison Pohn, editorial director for
                       children's portal Freezone, says her
                       company has decided to hold off on
                       offering email.

                       ....

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