LIS 768 01: Learning About CIPA and COPPA

                                                                  Introduction

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    Hello, Readers! As someone working to become a public librarian, I strive to learn what I can to become a responsible librarian leader someday, such as creating a positive, welcoming and safe environment within the walls of the library institution for all potential patrons to explore. This includes keeping myself up to date on modern library policies and federal laws which affect patrons across different age groups, such as teenagers and young children. This week I wanted to share with you what I’ve been learning about federal laws regarding the privacy and protection of children in regard to internet usage and online data, as well as share with you my reflections on the laws and my thoughts on how well I personally feel the laws protect youth in these modern times where technology always seems to be upgrading adapting into new shapes and forms every day.

                                        What are CIPA and COPPA?

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    The two federal laws I will discuss with you today, Readers, known as the Children’s Internet Protection Act, otherwise known as CIPA, and the Children’s Online PrivacyProtection Act, otherwise known as COPPA. As home computers with internet connection became more commonplace and the digital era rose in the dawn of the 21^st century, CIPA was enacted by Congress in the year 2000 for the purpose of protecting children from having access to obscene or potentially harmful online content. Updated with modern times in 2011 by the FCC, the CIPA requires schools and libraries who receive discounts for internet access and connection through the E-rate program to meet certain standards for the protection of the institutions’ respective students and young patrons; such as public institutions to have protective systems in place that black or otherwise flitter out age-inappropriate material and harmful content on computers accessible by children, as well as requiring educators to have internet safety policies that included technological protection, such monitoring children’s online activity, and to educate their young students about the safety rules, discuss what is appropriate online behavior and educate children about the dangers of talking to strangers in online chat spaces. Whereas COPPA is a law passed in the year 1998, with the purpose of protecting young children under the age of thirteen from online dangers and to protect the privacy of Children’s personal information. The passing of COPPA, enforced by the Federal Trade Commission, gave greater control of children’s personal information that could be potentially used or stolen online back to the children’s parents and guardians. COPPA required websites and apps marketed towards child audiences, or general ages websites which could potentially collect personal data from child users, to provide clear privacy policies and terms of service to the website’s userbase, as well as requiring websites to acquire consent from the parents of children in valid, signed parental forms in order to collect data or use personal information belonging to younger web users under the age of thirteen-years-old. These regulations from the two respective laws were created with the intent of keeping children safe from online dangers, keeping personal data of youth from being misused, and to create protective systems in place so that children could be shielded from harmful content online as time passed and the internet became more and more integrated into the daily lives of everyone, including the nation’s youth.

                                                 My Thoughts

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    Ultimately, after reflecting over the regulations of both federal laws, I feel that CIPA and COPPA’s guidelines are both needed and each create significant good in modern society in order to help ensure the safety, support and education of children about online etiquette and learning how to avoid dangerous or otherwise age-inappropriate content. However, as time moves forward, technology continues to advance and be further integrated into different corners of society, and thus, young children will continue to engage with technology at home, school and in public spaces, it will be increasingly difficult for CIPA and COPPA to protect children from everything that’s online. I feel there are ways in which the laws can continued to be revised and updated to further protect children, such as greater measurements to protecting the data of children at ages thirteen and above by COPPA for example, and I feel that for the children in the world who want to sneak their way past security measures to play age-inappropriate games, enter chat rooms or watch older-rated movies, they will find a way to lie their ways across lines. I think no matter what the laws and regulations in place, there will always be young individuals who lie about their age and sneak to play or watch mature material behind their parents’ back. While many young individuals may follow the rules their parents and educators explain to them about internet safety, it is difficult for the law to account for the youth who will simply choose to lie when entering birthdates into streaming services and entering adult spaces online, despite the barriers put in place to keep them out. In spite the difficulties of protecting all people under the law, I think the laws of CIPA and COPPA are still very important, as the laws provide measurements and guidelines to parents who want to keep their children safe from online harm. I feel that at the end of the day, protecting children is a collaborative effort by parents, educators and the laws of the government to ensure the safety and well-being of children across the nation.