COPPA Compliance: Children's Online Privacy, Handled
COPPA governs data collection from children under 13 — and the FTC's 2025 amendments raised the bar on third-party tracking. ConsentPixel controls which trackers fire.
The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) governs how websites and online services collect personal information from children under 13 — and the FTC's 2025 amendments significantly raised the bar, especially around third-party tracking and targeted advertising. ConsentPixel — Privacy · Verified helps you control which trackers fire, block third-party data sharing without proper consent, and keep audit-ready logs.
Important: COPPA is a different kind of obligation
COPPA is fundamentally different from the general consumer privacy laws. It is opt-in by design, centers on verifiable parental consent, and applies based on whether your service is directed to children or you have actual knowledge you're collecting data from under-13 users. A consent platform is one part of COPPA compliance — not the whole of it. ConsentPixel handles the tracker-control layer; verifiable parental consent and parental notices require dedicated processes built with legal counsel.
What is COPPA?
COPPA is a US federal law, enforced by the Federal Trade Commission, that requires operators of child-directed websites and online services — and operators with actual knowledge they are collecting personal information from children under 13 — to provide notice and obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting, using, or disclosing that information. It also gives parents rights to review and delete their child's data and imposes data minimization, retention, and security obligations.
The FTC finalized major amendments to the COPPA Rule in 2025 — its first significant update since 2013. The amended rule took effect June 23, 2025, with a compliance deadline of April 22, 2026. Key changes include:
- Separate, verifiable parental consent for third-party disclosures — including targeted advertising — meaning operators generally cannot share children's personal information with third parties (such as ad networks) without distinct opt-in parental consent.
- Expanded definition of personal information to include biometric identifiers (such as fingerprints, facial patterns, and voiceprints) and government-issued identifiers.
- Data retention limits — children's personal information may not be retained indefinitely.
- Written information security program requirements and assurances from third parties.
- Clarified "mixed audience" handling and updated parental notice requirements.
Who must comply
- Operators of websites or online services directed to children under 13.
- Operators of general-audience services that have actual knowledge they are collecting personal information from children under 13.
- "Mixed audience" services that target children among other audiences, subject to age-screening rules.
- Third parties (such as ad networks) that have actual knowledge they collect data from users of child-directed services.
What COPPA requires
- Direct and online notice to parents about data practices.
- Verifiable parental consent before collecting, using, or disclosing a child's personal information.
- Separate opt-in consent for disclosures to third parties, including for targeted advertising (2025 amendments).
- Parental rights to review, delete, and refuse further collection.
- Data minimization and retention limits — collect only what's needed; don't keep it indefinitely.
- Reasonable security, including a written information security program.
COPPA is enforced by the FTC (and state attorneys general), with civil penalties that can reach up to roughly $53,000 per violation. Penalties for collecting children's data without parental consent have been substantial in recent enforcement.
How ConsentPixel helps with COPPA
ConsentPixel — Privacy · Verified is a consent and tracker-control platform. For COPPA, it helps you enforce the technical side — controlling which trackers fire and preventing unconsented third-party data sharing — while you implement the parental-consent and notice processes COPPA requires.
Block third-party trackers by default. ConsentPixel can suppress advertising and analytics tags — like the Meta Pixel, Microsoft UET, and ad-network tags — so children's personal information isn't disclosed to third parties without the separate parental consent the 2025 rule requires.
Auto-detecting scanner identifies every tracker on your service, so you know exactly what would otherwise share data — essential for a service that may reach children.
Consent-gated firing means tags fire only when permitted, supporting an opt-in posture aligned with COPPA's model.
Document generator creates Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy foundations for the clear disclosures COPPA expects (parental-notice content should be tailored with counsel).
Immutable, audit-ready logs of consent states and tracker behavior support accountability and FTC-readiness.
One pixel, under 5 minutes to deploy the tracker-control layer.
ConsentPixel does not by itself provide verifiable parental consent (e.g., identity/age verification of a parent), age-gating decisions, or the full parental-notice workflow COPPA requires. Those require dedicated processes — often a COPPA-specific verification provider — designed with legal counsel.
Why ConsentPixel
- Auto-detection exposes every third-party tag that could trigger a COPPA disclosure obligation.
- One pixel enforces tracker suppression across platforms at once.
- Audit-ready logs give defensible technical records for FTC scrutiny.
- Multi-regulation: the same install also helps with state laws that reference COPPA for children's data.
Frequently asked questions
Does ConsentPixel make my site fully COPPA-compliant on its own?
No. ConsentPixel handles the tracker-control and consent-signal layer — blocking third-party data sharing until permitted and logging it. Full COPPA compliance also requires verifiable parental consent, proper parental notices, age-screening, and data-handling practices you implement with legal counsel and, often, a dedicated verification provider.
What changed in COPPA in 2025?
The FTC's amended rule took effect June 23, 2025, with compliance required by April 22, 2026. It added separate opt-in parental consent for third-party disclosures and targeted advertising, expanded "personal information" to include biometric and government-issued identifiers, imposed data-retention limits, and strengthened security requirements.
How does ConsentPixel help me avoid unconsented targeted advertising to children?
ConsentPixel can block advertising and third-party trackers by default, so children's personal information isn't disclosed to ad networks unless and until the required separate parental consent is in place.
What are the penalties for COPPA violations?
The FTC can seek civil penalties up to roughly $53,000 per violation, and recent enforcement actions against operators that collected children's data without parental consent have been significant.
Does COPPA apply if my site isn't aimed at kids?
It can, if you have actual knowledge that you're collecting personal information from children under 13, or if your service is "mixed audience." Age-screening and careful tracker control matter even for general-audience services.
The bottom line
COPPA's 2025 update makes third-party tracking the flashpoint: you generally can't share a child's data with ad networks without separate parental consent. ConsentPixel handles that technical gate — blocking third-party tags by default and logging everything — but it's one piece. Pair it with verifiable parental consent and proper notices, built with counsel, before relying on any tool for COPPA.
Get your COPPA tracker controls in place
Install ConsentPixel to detect every tracker, block third-party data sharing by default, and keep audit-ready logs — then pair it with the parental-consent processes COPPA requires.
Scan your site free Start free trialThis page is informational and is not legal advice. COPPA is a US federal law with strict, technical requirements and significant penalties; consult qualified counsel before relying on any tool for COPPA compliance, particularly regarding verifiable parental consent and parental notices.