The FTC issued a policy statement announcing that it will not enforce the COPPA Rule against website and online service operators that use age verification technologies solely to determine user age, provided they comply with conditions such as limiting data use, ensuring security, and providing clear notice. This policy aims to incentivize age verification tools to protect children online.
Operators must not use age verification data for any other purpose, retain it only as necessary, disclose it only to secure third parties, provide clear notice to parents and children, employ reasonable security safeguards, and ensure the age verification method is accurate.
In-house legal teams should review vendor agreements for age verification services, customer terms of service for websites using such tools, and data processing addendums. Focus on clauses defining data collection purposes, ensuring age data is used solely for age determination without secondary uses like marketing. Examine data sharing restrictions, security obligations (e.g., encryption), notice provisions informing users about age verification, and data retention schedules. Contracts may need amendments to explicitly limit age data use, enhance security requirements, and update privacy notices to reflect COPPA-compliant age verification practices.
Entity
Operators of General Audience and Mixed Audience Sites and Services
Also known as: Online Service Operators
Industry
TechnologyOfficial Press Release
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/02/ftc-issues-coppa-policy-statement-incentivize-use-age-verification-technologies-protect-children
childrens online privacy protection rule coppa
https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/rules/childrens-online-privacy-protection-rule-coppa
age verification workshop
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/events/2026/01/age-verification-workshop
enforcement policy statement promoting adoption age verifica
https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/enforcement-policy-statement-promoting-adoption-age-verification-technology
Federal Trade Commission Enforcement Page
https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement
"operators of general audience sites and services and mixed audience sites and services"
"Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)"
"COPPA Rule"
"collecting, using, or disclosing personal information collected from a child under 13"
The FTC referred a complaint against REPS & Company Inc. and company executives, alleging they bypassed ticket-issuer security controls and purchasing limits to acquire millions of tickets for resale. The complaint was filed by the Department of Justice, and the case will be decided by the court; the press release does not report a penalty or other remedy imposed.
The FTC sued Digital Forensics Corporation LLC and affiliated defendants, alleging they misled sextortion victims with promises of investigative and monitoring services that often were not provided, and used fake positive reviews. A federal court granted the FTC’s request to temporarily halt the defendants’ activities; the complaint remains for the court to decide.
The FTC alleged that Greenway Auto Group advertised vehicle prices thousands of dollars below the amounts consumers actually paid and used mailers falsely suggesting recipients had won cash prizes. Greenway agreed to an order requiring transparent pricing and prohibiting deceptive prize mailers and other misrepresentations; the press release does not state a monetary penalty.
The FTC sent warning letters to 24 large healthcare services companies, cautioning that incomplete, inaccurate, or untimely pricing information for scheduled medical care may be unfair or deceptive. The letters urge recipients to review their price-disclosure practices and take corrective action; they announce no fine or formal order.
$1.9M
The FTC alleged that Premier Franchising Group LLC and Franchise Fastlane LLC made deceptive and unsubstantiated claims about the Premier Martial Arts franchise opportunity and violated the Franchise Rule. The proposed settlements require the companies to pay a combined $1.85 million to compensate franchisees, prohibit certain misrepresentations, and require Franchise Rule compliance; certain franchisees may also cancel their agreements without penalty.
The FTC, Utah, and Nevada sued Lens.com Inc., alleging that it advertised artificially low contact lens prices while hiding mandatory checkout charges and misleading consumers about its AutoRefill subscription. The complaint seeks to stop the alleged practices; the court has not yet decided the case, and no penalty or remedy has been imposed.