Sony logo
Sony has been taken to task for breaching the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act

Sony pays up for privacy gaffe

US authorities hit company for collecting info on kids

Shaun Nichols in San Francisco

Sony's BMG Music branch has been fined for illegally collecting information from its youngest users.

The company has agreed to settle with the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over charges that it collected information of some 30,000 visitors to its artist web sites who were under the age of 13.

Advertisement

According to the 1998 Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), all web sites are required to obtain parental permission to collect and store data on children under the age of 13. The $1m penalty is believed to be the largest ever levied for violating the act.

The FTC alleged that the violations occurred on at least 196 fan sites. Many of the sites also included social networking components and the ability to share photos and videos. The FTC charged that the sites were possibly allowing the children to interact with adults without any parental notification or permission.

"Sites with social networking features, like any web sites, need to get parental consent before collecting kids’ personal information," said FTC chairman William E Kovacic.

"Sony Music is paying the penalty for falling down on its COPPA obligations. "

News of the settlement comes as one of Sony's other branches is preparing a major launch.

The first beta versions of the Home online world have launched for the PlayStation 3 (PS3). The virtual community allows PS3 owners to interact with one another and form online clubs for specific games or special interests.

The new service will also feature specially themed zones for games and promotions similar to those in online worlds such as Second Life.

  • Have your say
  • Send to a friend
  • Print
  • Digg
  • Reddit
  • Share

Do you agree?

Related whitepapers

Related jobs

Most watched

V3.co.uk weekly debrief, 13 Nov 09

This week we discuss the inaugural V3.co.uk Summit

Summit: Salesforce.com on SaaS and information overload

How web services contribute to data headaches

Analysis and Reports

Remote access - Three steps to getting connected

3.4 million UK professionals now work from home – is your company equipped?

Cost benefits of a global collaboration network

This white paper is a must read for organisations looking for evidence of the bottom-line benefits of high-definition video and voice communications

Poll

Impact of Information Overload poll

Impact of Information Overload poll

What is the biggest problem your firm faces as a result of the data explosion?

View poll results

Advertisement

White paper library

Keep up to date with the latest products, services and technologies from the world's leading IT companies; IThound.com brings you over 6,000 white papers, case studies and analyst reports.

Advertisement

Newsletter signup

Sign up for our range of FREE newsletters:

Existing User

Newsletter user login:

Enter email address to edit your newsletter preferences

Job of the week

Search thousands of IT jobs :

Search thousands of IT jobs:

Advanced search

Hiring now on ComputingCareers:

Related IT jobs

Search thousands of IT jobs :

Search thousands of IT jobs:

Advanced search

Advertisement

Spotlight

V3.co.uk weekly debrief, 13 Nov 09

This week we discuss the inaugural V3.co.uk Summit

Fingers on keyboard

New Flash vulnerability discovered

Web sites could be vulnerable to Flash attacks

Chris Adams

Summit: Microsoft Office to the rescue

Chris Adams, Office Client product manager for Microsoft UK, explains...

Illegal downloader

Industry and human rights campaigners united in opposition to "three strikes" plan

Critics says government proposals to curb illegal downloading are unworkable...

Primary Navigation