[donmcronald]

> COPPA imposes certain requirements on operators of websites or online services directed to children under 13 years of age, and on operators of other websites or online services that have actual knowledge that they are collecting personal information online from a child under 13 years of age.

I didn't read the whole thing. I plan to one day though because I want to see what the rules are, but, to me, that summary sounds like the only reason you need to do it is if you want to collect personal information for children that are 13-17 year old.

Here's a wild idea... How about not collecting the personal information of children?

[nobody9999]

>Here's a wild idea... How about not collecting the personal information of children?

Here's an even wilder one:

   How about not collecting personal information?  
   Full stop.

[smitop]

COPPA has a very broad definition of personal information (see https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/part-312). "Online contact information" counts as personal information, and that includes email addresses, IRC nicks, IM usernames, etc. Some other things that count as personal information under COPPA are IP addresses, the user's voice, and full names. Virtually all online services with user accounts collect personal information as defined by COPPA.

[nobody9999]

>Virtually all online services with user accounts collect personal information as defined by COPPA.

And that makes it right to do so? I think not.

Sure, it's necessary to store stuff like login credentials, if a login is required to access the site.

As such, it shouldn't matter how old (or young) you are, unless there's a specific need to store such information (and there rarely is) to support the use of whatever services are provided by a website, it's invasive and untrustworthy to do so.

And I respond accordingly.

Feel free to disagree, but that's not a discussion which will end in me changing my position.