FTC to Enforce COPPA Amendments, Affecting Major Industries in 2026
FTC's COPPA amendments take effect on April 22, 2026, mandating compliance.
Why it matters: Industries dealing with children's data must overhaul compliance strategies. Legal and compliance teams need to be prepared for these significant rule changes.
- Amendments to COPPA were published on April 22, 2025.
- Changes include strict guidelines for children's online privacy.
- Enforcement begins on April 22, 2026, impacting tech and education sectors.
- Legal teams must adjust compliance practices before enforcement.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has scheduled enforcement of its amended Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule (COPPA) to begin on April 22, 2026. This marks the first major update to the rule since 2013, focusing on strengthening online privacy protections for children.
Published in the Federal Register on April 22, 2025, the amendments require industries such as technology, education, and entertainment to implement comprehensive compliance frameworks. Organizations in these sectors must address stricter requirements for data collection, enhanced security measures, and updated mechanisms for parental consent.
The COPPA amendments also introduce new guidelines for privacy notices and expand the scope of data protections. A LexBlog article emphasizes the need for legal teams to meticulously review these changes to ensure adherence to the revised rules.
The implications for affected industries are monumental, as compliance demands revising current data management practices. This includes reevaluating data retention policies and enhancing security protocols to meet the new regulatory standards.
By the numbers:
- 2013 — Last significant update to COPPA before the current amendments.
- April 22, 2025 — Date when FTC published the COPPA amendments.
- April 22, 2026 — Scheduled start of enforcement for new COPPA rules.
What's next: Firms will need to finalize compliance strategies well before April 2026.