Texas Attorney General sues two kids’ web sites

by PegNews wire

AUSTIN — Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott announced today that his office has brought suit against two Web sites that cater to children but fail to adequately protect their privacy and safety. Texas is now the first state to file an enforcement action under the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), a federal law that generally prohibits Web sites from unnecessarily collecting personal information from children under 13.

According to Abbott's investigators, TheDollPalace.com and Gamesradar.com unlawfully collect personal information such as names, ages, and home addresses from children.

Investigators also discovered that the sites' parental consent features were easily manipulated and circumvented. The lack of reasonable controls readily allow children to access the sites' various features, including interactive chat rooms and forums, without their parents' knowledge.

The enforcement action alleges that TheDollPalace.com requires children to fill out a 10-page personal profile in order to meet other site users and "search for friends." The questionnaire asks children for detailed personal information, such as height, weight and eye color, and personal habits, including smoking and drinking behaviors.

It also asks children about the type of person they would like to meet, including the options, "I would like to meet someone older than myself," "My idea of a fun date," and "sexual issues." Despite collecting this detailed information, much of it does not appear on the user's profile nor is it otherwise used for purposes of allowing users to meet and interact.

Source: Consumer Affairs