Yelp, Game App Maker Settle With FTC For Violating Children’s Privacy

Customer review site Yelp and the TinyCo, which develops game apps, have agreed to $450,000 and $300,000 fines, respectively, to settle FTC charges that they violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (Coppa). The companies failed to obtain a parent’s consent before collecting personal data, including email addresses, names, locations and other information, from children under 13 years old. The settlement mandates that Yelp and TinyCo delete all such information, and each must submit a report to the agency in a year outlining adherence to Coppa.