TRUSTe Settles With New York AG Over Failing to Prevent Online Tracking of Children

AG's office said TRUSTe failed to assess its customers' websites, including those of Hasbro and Roblox, leaving children vulnerable to tracking, which is prohibited by the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Though TRUSTe did electronic scans of customers' websites for third-party tracking technology, the organization "omitted most or all of its customers' children's webpages from its scans" and couldn't determine if such tracking was there, said the office. The AG also said TRUSTe didn't provide customers with relevant results from the scans and also accepted customers' representations that tracking tech found on their websites didn't violate COPPA rather than independently verifying it. Under the settlement, experienced TRUSTe employees must conduct and verify scans of a large part of customers' websites aimed at children, identify and disclose tracking technology to customers and obtain and review information about tracking tech provided by customers. CEO Chris Babel said in a blog post the settlement "relates solely to the operational practices of our Children's Certification program." He said it's also working with the FTC to update the program. In September, Schneiderman announced settlements with Hasbro, JumpStart Games, Mattel and Viacom for allowing illegal online tracking of children (see 1609130029).