Privacy watchdog group calls on FTC to investigate 'SpongeBob' mobile app

The Center for Digital Democracy (CDD) called on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate a "SpongeBob SquarePants"-themed mobile app game by Nickelodeon and mobile game developer PlayFirst, claiming that it violates online child privacy rules.

In its complaint, the privacy watchdog group says the "SpongeBob Diner Dash" game asks kids to submit some of their personal information, including their full name and e-mail address, without obtaining parental consent or providing a notice to parents first. CDD charges that this information collection violates the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), even though the app claims that it complies with the privacy law. CDD says the app also doesn't provide a description of the personal information it collects, or how it uses that information.