Advanced Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Operations
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collected from the child by that operator;
(ii) the opportunity at any time to refuse to permit the
operator’s further use or maintenance in retrievable
form, or future online collection, of personal informa-
tion from that child; and
(iii) notwithstanding any other provision of law, a means
that is reasonable under the circumstances for the par-
ent to obtain any personal information collected from
that child;
(C) prohibit conditioning a child’s participation in a game, the
offering of a prize, or another activity on the child disclosing
more personal information than is reasonably necessary to
participate in such activity; and
(D) require the operator of such a website or online service to
establish and maintain reasonable procedures to protect the
confidentiality, security, and integrity of personal informa-
tion collected from children.
(2)
When consent not required
The regulations shall provide that verifiable parental consent
under paragraph (1)(A)(ii) is not required in the case of—
(A) online contact information collected from a child that
is used only to respond directly on a one-time basis to a
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specific request from the child and is not used to recontact
the child and is not maintained in retrievable form by the
operator;
(B) a request for the name or online contact information of a
parent or child that is used for the sole purpose of obtain-
ing parental consent or providing notice under this section
and where such information is not maintained in retrievable
form by the operator if parental consent is not obtained after
a reasonable time;
(C) online contact information collected from a child that is
used only to respond more than once directly to a specific
request from the child and is not used to recontact the child
beyond the scope of that request—
(1) if, before any additional response after the initial response
to the child, the operator uses reasonable efforts to pro-
vide a parent notice of the online contact information
collected from the child, the purposes for which it is to
be used, and an opportunity for the parent to request
that the operator make no further use of the information
and that it not be maintained in retrievable form; or
(2) without notice to the parent in such circumstances as
the Commission may determine are appropriate, taking
into consideration the benefits to the child of access to
information and services, and risks to the security and
privacy of the child, in regulations promulgated under
this subsection;
(D) the name of the child and online contact information (to the
extent reasonably necessary to protect the safety of a child
participant on the site)—
(1) used only for the purpose of protecting such safety;
(2) not used to recontact the child or for any other
purpose; and
(3) not disclosed on the site, if the operator uses reason-
able efforts to provide a parent notice of the name and
online contact information collected from the child, the
purposes for which it is to be used, and an opportu-
nity for the parent to request that the operator make no
further use of the information and that it not be main-
tained in retrievable form; or
(E) the collection, use, or dissemination of such information by
the operator of such a website or online service necessary—
(1) to protect the security or integrity of its website;
(2) to take precautions against liability;
Appendix B: Computer Crime and Privacy Laws
355
(iii) to respond to judicial process; or
(iv) to the extent permitted under other provisions of law, to
provide information to law enforcement agencies or for
an investigation on a matter related to public safety.
(3)
Termination of service
The regulations shall permit the operator of a website or an online
service to terminate service provided to a child whose parent has
refused, under the regulations prescribed under paragraph (1)
(B)(ii), to permit the operator’s further use or maintenance in
retrievable form, or future online collection, of personal infor-
mation from that child.
(c) Enforcement
Subject to sections 6503 and 6505 of this title, a violation of a regula-
tion prescribed under subsection (a) of this section shall be treated
as a violation of a rule defining an unfair or deceptive act or practice
prescribed under section 57a (a)(1)(B) of this title.
(d) Inconsistent State law
No State or local government may impose any liability for commer-
cial activities or actions by operators in interstate or foreign com-
merce in connection with an activity or action described in this
chapter that is inconsistent with the treatment of those activities or
actions under this section.
§ 6503. Safe Harbors
(a) Guidelines
An operator may satisfy the requirements of regulations issued
under section 6502 (b) of this title by following a set of self-regulatory guidelines, issued by representatives of the marketing or online
industries, or by other persons, approved under subsection (b) of
this section.
(b) Incentives
(1)
Self-regulatory incentives
In prescribing regulations under section 6502 of this title, the
Commission shall provide incentives for self-regulation by
operators to implement the protections afforded children under
the regulatory requirements described in subsection (b) of that
section.
(2)
Deemed compliance
Such incentives shall include provisions for ensuring that a per-
son will be deemed to be in compliance with the requirements
of the regulations under section 6502 of this title if that person
complies with guidelines that, after notice and comment, are
approved by the Commission upon making a determination that
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the guidelines meet the requirements of the regulations issued
under section 6502 of this title.
(3)
Expedited response to requests
The Commission shall act upon requests for safe harbor treat-
ment within 180 days of the filing of the request, and shall set
forth in writing its conclusions with regard to such requests.
(c) Appeals
Final action by the Commission on a request for approval of guide-
lines, or the failure to act within 180 days on a request for approval
of guidelines, submitted under subsection (b) of this section may be
appealed to a district court of the United States of appropriate juris-
diction as provided for in section 706 of title 5.
§ 6504. Actions by States
(a) In general
(1)
Civil actions
In any case in which the attorney general of a State has re
ason to
believe that an interest of the residents of that State has been or
is threatened or adversely affected by the engagement of any per-
son in a practice that violates any regulation of the Commission
prescribed under section 6502 (b) of this title, the State, as parens
patriae, may bring a civil action on behalf of the residents of the
State in a district court of the United States of appropriate juris-
diction to—
(A) enjoin that practice;
(B) enforce compliance with the regulation;
(C) obtain damage, restitution, or other compensation on behalf
of residents of the State; or
(D) obtain such other relief as the court may consider to be
appropriate.
(2)
Notice
(A) In general
Before filing an action under paragraph (1), the attorney gen-
eral of the State involved shall provide to the Commission—
(i) written notice of that action; and
(ii) a copy of the complaint for that action.
(B) Exemption
(i) In general: Subparagraph (A) shall not apply with respect
to the filing of an action by an attorney general of a State
under this subsection, if the attorney general determines
that it is not feasible to provide the notice described in
that subparagraph before the filing of the action.
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357
(ii) Notification: In an action described in clause (i), the
attorney general of a State shall provide notice and a
copy of the complaint to the Commission at the same
time as the attorney general files the action.
(b) Intervention
(1)
In general
On receiving notice under subsection (a)(2) of this section, the
Commission shall have the right to intervene in the action that is
the subject of the notice.
(2)
Effect of intervention
If the Commission intervenes in an action under subsection (a)
of this section, it shall have the right—
(A) to be heard with respect to any matter that arises in that
action; and
(B) to file a petition for appeal.
(3)
Amicus curiae
Upon application to the court, a person whose self-regulatory
guidelines have been approved by the Commission and are relied
upon as a defense by any defendant to a proceeding under this
section may file amicus curiae in that proceeding.
(c) Construction
For purposes of bringing any civil action under subsection (a) of
this section, nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent an
attorney general of a State from exercising the powers conferred on
the attorney general by the laws of that State to—
(1) conduct investigations;
(2) administer oaths or affirmations; or
(3) compel the attendance of witnesses or the production of docu-
mentary and other evidence.
(d) Actions by Commission
In any case in which an action is instituted by or on behalf of the
Commission for violation of any regulation prescribed under section
6502 of this title, no State may, during the pendency of that action,
institute an action under subsection (a) of this section against any
defendant named in the complaint in that action for violation of that
regulation.
(e) Venue; service of process
(1)
Venue
Any action brought under subsection (a) of this section may
be brought in the district court of the United States that meets
applicable requirements relating to venue under section 1391 of
title 28.
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(2)
Service of process
In an action brought under subsection (a) of this section, process
may be served in any district in which the defendant—
(A) is an inhabitant; or
(B) may be found.
§ 6505. Administration and Applicability
(a) In general
Except as otherwise provided, this chapter shall be enforced by the
Commission under the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41
et seq.).
(b) Provisions
Compliance with the requirements imposed under this chapter shall
be enforced under—
(1) section 8 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1818),
in the case of—
(A) national banks, and Federal branches and Federal agencies of
foreign banks, by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency;
(B) member banks of the Federal Reserve System (other than
national banks), branches and agencies of foreign banks (other
than Federal branches, Federal agencies, and insured State
branches of foreign banks), commercial lending companies
owned or controlled by foreign banks, and organizations oper-
ating under section 25 or 25(a) of the Federal Reserve Act (12
U.S.C. 601 et seq. and 611 et seq.), by the Board; and
(C) banks insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
(other than members of the Federal Reserve System) and
insured State branches of foreign banks, by the Board of
Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation;
(2) section 8 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1818),
by the Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision, in the case of
a savings association the deposits of which are insured by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation;
(3) the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) by the
National Credit Union Administration Board with respect to any
Federal credit union;
(4) part A of subtitle VII of title 49 by the Secretary of Transportation with respect to any air carrier or foreign air carrier subject to that part; (5) the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 181 et. seq.)
(except as provided in section 406 of that Act (7 U.S.C. 226, 227)),
by the Secretary of Agriculture with respect to any activities sub-
ject to that Act; and
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359
(6) the Farm Credit Act of 1971 (12 U.S.C. 2001 et seq.) by the Farm
Credit Administration with respect to any Federal land bank,
Federal land bank association, Federal intermediate credit bank,
or production credit association.
(c) Exercise of certain powers
For the purpose of the exercise by any agency referred to in sub-
section (a) of this section of its powers under any Act referred to in
that subsection, a violation of any requirement imposed under this
chapter shall be deemed to be a violation of a requirement imposed
under that Act. In addition to its powers under any provision of law
specifically referred to in subsection (a) of this section, each of the
agencies referred to in that subsection may exercise, for the purpose
of enforcing compliance with any requirement imposed under this
chapter, any other authority conferred on it by law.
(d) Actions by Commission
The Commission shall prevent any person from violating a rule of
the Commission under section 6502 of this title
in the same man-
ner, by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction, powers, and
duties as though all applicable terms and provisions of the Federal
Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were incorporated into
and made a part of this chapter. Any entity that violates such rule
shall be subject to the penalties and entitled to the privileges and
immunities provided in the Federal Trade Commission Act in the
same manner, by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction,
power, and duties as though all applicable terms and provisions of
the Federal Trade Commission Act were incorporated into and made
a part of this chapter.
(e) Effect on other laws
Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to limit the
authority of the Commission under any other provisions of law.
§ 6506. Review
Not later than 5 years after the effective date of the regulations initially issued under section 6502 of this title, the Commission shall
(1) review the implementation of this chapter, including the effect of the implementation of this chapter on practices relating to the collection
and disclosure of information relating to children, children’s ability
to obtain access to information of their choice online, and on the
availability of websites directed to children; and
(2) prepare and submit to Congress a report on the results of the review
under paragraph (1).
Appendix C: Government
Data Privacy Laws*
E-Government Act (44 U.S.C. § 101)
Chapter 1: Homeland Security Organization
• § 101. Definitions
• § 102. Construction; Severability
• § 103. Use of Appropriated Funds
Subchapter I: Department of Homeland Security (§§ 111–115)
Subchapter II: Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection
(§§ 121–165)
Subchapter III: Science and Technology in Support of Homeland
Security (§§ 181–195c)
Subchapter IV: Directorate of Border and Transportation Security
(§§ 201–298)
Subchapter V: National Emergency Management (§§ 311–321n)
Subchapter VI: Treatment of Charitable Trusts for Members of the
Armed Forces of the United States and Other Governmental
Organizations (§ 331)
Subchapter VII: Management (§§ 341–347)
Subchapter VIII: Coordination with Non-Federal Entities; Inspector
General; United States Secret Service; Coast Guard; General