BBB National Programs Blog

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has given us a lot to think about by publishing its proposed changes to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) Rule. While the FTC does not propose many wholesale revisions to the COPPA Rule, CARU breaks down what the FTC is proposing.

Industry self-regulation can be a key differentiator for businesses and nonprofits to perform at their most effective level, especially when it comes to engaging with emerging technologies such as AI. But the question is, as a private sector leader, what does the road map look like?

BBB National Programs has released the Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative (CFBAI) and Children’s Confection Advertising Initiative (CCAI) 2022 Annual Report, which includes findings on CFBAI and CCAI participant compliance.

If you are a multinational business or interacting with clients, service providers, or contractors in the EU, your business is likely processing data of EU consumers. Companies have realized they can remove the headache of managing the process by leveraging a third-party accountability agent, such as BBB National Programs, to do the heavy lifting.

Tips from the Children's Advertising Review Unit (CARU) on areas to pay attention to when gifting a child their first phone, things to avoid, and steps to take to set yourself and your child up for success.

Earlier this year the FTC revised its Guides for Endorsements and Testimonials and issued a guidance document answering questions about the Guides, as well as a proposed new rule on the use of consumer reviews and testimonials - almost promising businesses that the FTC would be taking a close look at influencer marketing.

BBB National Programs responded to the NTIA request for comment to gather feedback on protecting minors’ mental health, safety, and privacy online.

As a new frontier, the metaverse is full of opportunities for brands and also creates a lot of nuanced challenges for companies engaging with or marketing to children and teens. Responsible brands - large and small - should take proactive steps to better understand the advertising and privacy challenges in the metaverse.

Every day, teens download apps for free on the Google Play and Apple App Stores and, in doing so, participate in a hidden advertising ecosystem that collects data from them. In-app purchase options and behavioral advertising further complicate things. Though these monetization models have caused the mobile app economy to flourish, they sometimes come at the cost of user privacy.

While the AADC injunction is not the final word on the constitutionality of California’s approach to regulating online harms, the injunction—and the reasoning that underlies the district court’s decision—raises important questions and creates an entry point to establish a robust minimum bar of protections for teens.