In an attempt to maintain the mobile privacy of children, the Federal Trade Commission has issued a $50,000 fine to W3 Innovations — the parent company of BrokenThumbsApps, creators of iPhone and iPod touch children’s games, including Zombie Duck Hunt, Truth or Dare, and Emily’s Dress Up.
W3 Innovations was hit with an FTC lawsuit on Friday, which stated allegations against the company:
“In additional to the collection and maintenance of over 30,000 emails, containg email addresses, Defendants have collected, maintained, and/or disclosed personal information from over 300 Emily’s Girl World app users and approximately 290 Emily’s Dress Up app users who have registered to submit comments.”
The company quickly settled without a battle on Monday, accepting the $50,000 fine, agreeing to delete all collected personal data and promising to not make any further violations.
The FTC claimed that W3 Innovations’ apps were a violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the FTC’s COPPA Rule, which requires that a parent or guardian must give consent before a website operator can collect personal information from a child under 13 years of age. The FTC says that the company’s mobile apps fell under this rule, because the mobile apps send and receive data via the Internet.
The FTC has collected fines from a number of companies in violation of the COPPA rule, including Xanga ($1 million), Sony ($1 million) and
W3 Innovations was hit with an FTC lawsuit on Friday, which stated allegations against the company:
“In additional to the collection and maintenance of over 30,000 emails, containg email addresses, Defendants have collected, maintained, and/or disclosed personal information from over 300 Emily’s Girl World app users and approximately 290 Emily’s Dress Up app users who have registered to submit comments.”
The company quickly settled without a battle on Monday, accepting the $50,000 fine, agreeing to delete all collected personal data and promising to not make any further violations.
The FTC claimed that W3 Innovations’ apps were a violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the FTC’s COPPA Rule, which requires that a parent or guardian must give consent before a website operator can collect personal information from a child under 13 years of age. The FTC says that the company’s mobile apps fell under this rule, because the mobile apps send and receive data via the Internet.
The FTC has collected fines from a number of companies in violation of the COPPA rule, including Xanga ($1 million), Sony ($1 million) and