Many developers began holding their breath when changes to COPPA, the federal rule related to children’s online privacy, went into effect in July. Pretty much every app catering to children under 13 was in violation of the law, complained people across the software industry, and it was only a matter of time before the federal government would start handing down big fines.
Four months later, developers are still waiting to exhale. Though the Federal Trade Commission, which enforces the law, says it has not gone after anyone for violating its new provisions, this doesn’t mean that everyone suddenly figured it out. Many developers are still at a loss: Not only are they not complying with the law, they don’t even know how to do so.
