Email with Jeff Chester from the Center for Digital Democracy (http://www.democraticmedia.org/)
Re: CNET's "Groups push feds for video game age restrictions"
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-20009511-38.html

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Jeff Chester/CDD: If the game does collect personal information, it
would have to comply with COPPA under our proposal if it is directed
to children, which would be defined as including any online video game
where 20 percent of players are under 13, or if the operator knows
that it is collecting information from a child. We discuss a broad
range of concerns, and I think your readers would have benefited from
such an approach in your story.

Declan McCullagh/CNET: Thanks for your reply. Let's say that 20
percent of the players of a new video game are under 13 and the game
collects at least some personal information. How will the operator
comply with COPPA in that case? How would you want verifiable parental
consent to work, if not via a credit card?

Jeff Chester/CDD: We want online games, mobile targeting, virtual
world collection of data to apply to COPPA. There will be time to
develop various approaches.

Declan McCullagh/CNET: Hmm. But isn't it important to have some idea
of how this would work in practice before saying COPPA must apply? I
mean, one "approach" would be to shut down all interactive in-game
marketing, or pull the plug on Sony's Playstation 3 online gaming
network, but I presume you wouldn't go that far. :) Which approaches
are you suggesting should be on the table and off the table for video
games and virtual worlds?

Jeff Chester/CDD: There shouldn't be any data collection for targeting
going on in online games targeting under 13. If there is, COPPA
applies--and there need to be privacy controls.

Declan McCullagh/CNET: Okay. What would you like these controls to be?
Let's say that 20 percent of the players of a new video game are under
13 and the game collects at least some personal information. How will
the operator comply with COPPA in that case? How would you want
verifiable parental consent to work, if not via a credit card? Which
approaches are you suggesting should be on the table and off the table
for video games and virtual worlds?

Jeff Chester/CDD: As we work on further developments, I will keep you
informed.

Declan McCullagh/CNET: Thanks, but I really was hoping you'd answer my
questions about how you want video game makers and console
manufacturers to conduct age verification. I guess you're not going
to. Anyway, have a good Independence Day weekend.

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