Hrrrmmm...

[belleweather]

Does anyone who has been more closely following "SurveyFail" and it's attendant fall out know if the fact that collecting any sort of identifying or demographic information from those who may be under 13 is punishable under COPPA and that there may also be other legal liability based on the fact that minors are potentially being solicited regarding

Comments

[nicocoer]

I think there are laws about research conducted on minors? That might be more applicable.

[belleweather]

There may be, I'm not sure. But I think maybe what you're thinking about are the regulations about academic research? Those totally weren't followed, but since this research is commercial and not academic, they apparently don't have to be.

[nicocoer]

It either has to follow one or the other. And I think maybe there are standards on research regardless?

Any journalism folks know what the standards are for researching a story, if we aren't classifying it under either Academic or Commercial? These guys were BILLING it as Academic research, even if it wasn't, and as An earlier commenter noted they may not fall under the commercial guidelines. Alternatively, If they were billing it as Academic, any academics know if that means that academic standards apply since they self-identified as such?

Reminds me of Chaney disclaiming he has to follow by either Executive OR Congressional laws restricting his power otherwise.

[nicocoer]

Also, don't most sites that take any personal info from minors have to exclude those under 13, or. . .?

Sorry, I've been hanging out in the Health Care reform debates and some folk have driven me to drink this evening.

[belleweather]

Yep, COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, I probably should have specified since I think congress recycled that acronym from one of their indeceny laws) is the law that requires sites to do special things with any personal information from minors under 13. In the real world, the stuff they have to do to comply is fairly difficult -- like contacting parents and allowing them to request the information is removed -- so most sites just limit what can be posted/shared by kids younger than 13.

I'm so, so sorry about the Health Care Reform debates. It drives me to drink on a regular basis... and I do it for a living. ;) *offers margarita*

[nicocoer]

Oh, thank you for clarifying the Acronym, I wasn't sure which it fell under- I think it has recycled it in Mental Health Care crap as well, so I was very unsure. (My usual realm is MH/Developmental Disability advocacy, so. . .)

Mmm, Margaritas! unfortunately, my RL drink tonight is just whiskey and cola, but I'll take an online margarita any night!