Special Online Privacy Act

Link to Us: http://snipr.com/on9pact



Jeremy Douglas-Stewart, Comprehensive Guide to Privacy Law - Private Sector, Presidian Legal Publications. [Online]
Picture retrieved on: 14th March 2010
URL: http://www.presidian.com.au/images/comp-guide-privacy-law.JPG

"The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA) prohibits the collection, maintenance, and use or disclosure of personal information from children under the age of 13 on commercial Web sites that are directed at children." 1

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(Page 104, 4.2.5 paragraph 1, Youth, pornography, and the Internet, Dick Thornburgh, Herbert Lin, National Research Council U.S.

Nowadays, we (teenagers, youngsters, adults, elderly people) are talking about online privacy to protect our online information but do you know that children deserve online privacy too? Based on the book 'Youth, pornography, and the Internet", In U.S. they do have an Act to protect children's online privacy who are aged below 13. That means everyone in U.S. is under protect by Act or Law. There are many cyber laws and acts in U.S. that protect Internet users such as Cybersecurity Act of 2009.

So, what is this Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 about? Basically, it protects children's private information online which included first and last name, home or physical address, e-mail address, telephone number, and other collection of personal information. Moreover, this Act also addresses to stop commercial web sites or online service use children information and target to children.

In the past, there were some bad people use children appearance in pornography. They use children images and exposure in the online child pornography and at the end would lead to very bad consequence which is the luring of children get into illegal sexual activities. Therefore, this act is created to stop people use children's identity included name, appearance, and other personal information in child pornography through Internet. Furthermore, children's online privacy is being protected. Their online personal information such as name, photos show their identity, and exposure could not be used for commercial web sites, online services without their parents' consent and so, children's private information and identity have their own privacy and could not easily be used or misused by the online service providers or web sites.

This Act is so special. Do not think adults need online privacy protection to guard and secure their personal information only. Children need it too because they have their own identities and exposure especially online.

On the other hand, In Malaysia we do have Data Personal Act to protect all the Internet users' personal information (this Act is progressing but it is believed it would be publicized very soon). Currently, one of the serious cyber issues in Malaysia would be phishing scams. In my opinion, this Data Personal Act could prohibit fraudsters misuse users' personal information such as online banking log in details included log in name and password, credit card numbers, IC number, and other data they use via Internet to obtain illegal benefits especially in terms of financial -- money. This Act is quite new and unique because it aims and major to guard one's online personal information to fight against phishing scams and other misuse of personal information. In my opinion, Malaysia might not need a lawsuit to mainly focus on children's online privacy protection because the social and culture are very different from U.S. We protect children's personal information and illegal and negative children exposure through Internet is always prohibited. In U.S. misuse children exposure and personal information is very serious especially child pornography. Therefore, they must have a lawsuit to against all these negative children's personal information exposure through online.

In conclusion, children deserve online privacy and they need protection on their identity and personal information. Children are innocent, we should not violate their online personal information privacy and use their information on other bad ways. They have their rights to choose how to their information can be used or refuse to be used.



References:
Primary Search:
Dick Thornburgh, Herbert Lin, National Research Council (U.S.) (2002), Youth, Pornography, and the Internet, National Academy Press. 2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. United States of America.


Secondary Search:
Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998, Federal Trade Commission. [Online]
Retrieved on: 14th March 2010
URL: http://www.ftc.gov/ogc/coppa1.htm