FTC Finalizes the First COPPA Children's-Privacy Update Since 2013
On 16 January 2025 the US Federal Trade Commission, then chaired by Lina Khan, finalised the first amendment since 2013 to the rule implementing the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. In the causal graph this event strengthens Digital-Rights and Platform-Power Regulation, a driver that strengthens Alternative sources of information index — an improving welfare path.
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On 16 January 2025 the US Federal Trade Commission, then chaired by Lina Khan, finalised the first amendment since 2013 to the rule implementing the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. The unanimous 5-0 update requires parents to opt in before children's data can be used for targeted advertising, expands 'personal information' to cover biometric identifiers, and limits how long operators may retain children's data. The change tightens the data-monetisation practices of services directed at children.
Who was responsible
Contribution type and responsibility level for each recorded actor — not sole-author shorthand.
Federal Trade Commission
OrganizationShared responsibility
verified
The unanimous rulemaking expanded children's data protections nationwide.
Lina M. Khan
PersonShared responsibility
verified
Leading the first COPPA update since 2013 strengthened protective limits on the collection and monetisation of children's data.
What changed
Fact → Driver → Indicator. Relationship strength orders the paths; it is not the observed indicator movement.
- FactFTC Finalizes the First COPPA Children's-Privacy Update Since 2013
- strengthensDriverDigital-Rights and Platform-Power Regulation
- strengthensIndicators (4)Alternative sources of information index
impact weight 0.5 · Effect from 16 January 2025 · verified
Requiring opt-in for kids' targeted ads and limiting data retention strengthens protective privacy regulation for children.
Strengthens · Relationship strength 0.26 (weight 0.5 × strength 0.52)
Observed
0.62 score from 0 to 1 · 0.23 below the normal line (2024)
Worse than normal125 readings, 1900–2024: rose from 0.35 score from 0 to 1 to 0.62 score from 0 to 1.
Above normal = better
Weakens · Relationship strength 0.23 (weight 0.5 × strength 0.45)
Observed
45 Score · 45 above the normal line (2024)
Worse than normal7 readings, 2018–2024: rose from 43.8 Score to 45 Score.
Normal is zero · any amount = worse
Strengthens · Relationship strength 0.2 (weight 0.5 × strength 0.4)
Above normal = better
All indicators on this path (4)
Strengthens · Relationship strength 0.17 (weight 0.5 × strength 0.35)
Observed
0.55 index score (0-1) · 0.26 below the normal line (2024)
Worse than normalAbove normal = better
Causal path
How this event connects to drivers and indicators in the graph.
- Actors (2)Federal Trade Commission
- contributed toFactFTC Finalizes the First COPPA Children's-Privacy Update Since 2013
- strengthensDriverDigital-Rights and Platform-Power Regulation
- strengthensIndicatorAlternative sources of information index
Cite this page
Factrail. (2026). FTC Finalizes the First COPPA Children's-Privacy Update Since 2013. Factrail. https://factrail.ai/facts/tech-fact-ftc-coppa-update-2025
https://factrail.ai/facts/tech-fact-ftc-coppa-update-2025
Accessed 15 October 2026.
By the Factrail desk · Method: how we source and score · Last reviewed
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