FTC Signals Unified Focus On Kids' Privacy With Rule Update

Lindsey Tonsager’s commentary was included in a Law360 article covering the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) move to strengthen longstanding online privacy protections for children.

The FTC’s proposal to add text messages as an approved form of obtaining parental consent is likely to be a welcome development for companies since it provides them with "more flexibility," Lindsey comments. "As was pointed out in the public comments and as the FTC has recognized, a lot of these relationships are very dynamic and constantly changing in this area, and it will be interesting to see the new chair's next steps in this area," Lindsey said. She adds that "as is demonstrated by this final rule, children's privacy has always been a bipartisan issue, and I expect COPPA enforcement will continue to be a high priority for the FTC."