Connecticut House Bill HB06418

Connecticut 2015 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/23/15
• Refer: 1/23/15

Caption

An Act Extending The Provisions Of The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act And Requiring Parental Notification Of Third-party Vendor Data Collection.

Impact

The proposed legislation would require local and regional boards of education to include specific clauses in their contracts with third-party educational service providers. These clauses must mandate that parents and guardians are informed about the data collection processes concerning their children, specifying what information will be gathered and for what purposes. This requirement aims to enhance transparency and give parents a greater oversight role in their children's online interactions with educational vendors.

Summary

House Bill 6418 aims to amend the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by extending its provisions to children aged 13 to 18. This bill emphasizes the importance of protecting students' personal information collected online, particularly in the context of educational environments. By broadening the scope of COPPA, the bill seeks to address privacy concerns for older minors who are increasingly active online, ensuring they are afforded the same protections as younger children under the act.

Contention

While the bill has garnered support for its focus on enhancing student privacy, there are potential concerns regarding the added burdens it may impose on educational institutions. Some stakeholders might argue that requiring parental notifications and modifications to contracts could hinder the adoption of valuable educational technologies or create additional administrative work for schools already operating under tight budgets and resources. The discussions surrounding this bill may touch on how to balance student privacy with the need for innovative educational tools.