Children’s Internet Privacy comes into Congress’ View

House lawmakers debated proposed updates to the Children’s Online Private Protection rules, the government’s first effort to tweak 12-year-old laws to better apply to the proliferation of new mobile devices and Internet applications being used by children. The House Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade Subcommittee debated recommendations by the Federal Trade Commission that Web firms be required to seek greater permissions from parents to collect information about children under the age of 13.

But even with bipartisan support over some privacy bills, it will be difficult to pass new laws this session of Congress, analysts say, as lawmakers focus on jobs and the economy. The FTC has recommended rules that companies must first get parents’ permission to collect information on a child’s whereabouts, or geo-location — a practice widely used by Web giants Google, Facebook and other firms on mobile devices. The FTC also said Web sites should seek parental consent before tracking children online through cookies and other technologies for purposes outside the operations of the Web site. Parents would also have to give permission for the collection of photos and videos that identify a child, according to the FTC’s recommendation. The FTC said last fall that it believes COPPA rules apply to mobile devices, social networks and mobile apps. That view encourages privacy advocates who said federal officials need to clarify the role of mobile devices, social networks and Internet-enabled gaming consoles under COPPA, a set of rules adopted in a time before the iPhone and Facebook.