Microsoft will pay $20 million to resolve claims made by the US government that it unlawfully gathered personal data from children. This was announced on Monday.
United States Fines Microsoft: The Federal Trade Commission claimed that between 2015 and 2020, Microsoft acquired and stored personal information from children under 13 who registered for its Xbox gaming system without their parent’s permission.
Users had to enter their email address, first and last name, and date of birth to open an account. As a result, according to the FTC, Microsoft broke the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act or COPPA. Samuel Levine, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, states, “Our proposed order makes it easier for parents to protect their children’s privacy on Xbox and limits what information Microsoft can collect and retain about kids.”
Levine continued, “This action should make it abundantly clear that kids’ avatars, biometric information, and health information are not exempt from COPPA.”
A federal judge must still approve the decision to take effect. According to the FTC, Microsoft will have to take several actions to strengthen privacy protections for children using its Xbox system.
According to the COPPA law, websites and online services catering to children under 13 must tell parents about the personal information they collect and acquire verifiable parental approval before doing so. Furthermore, An AFP request for comment received no immediate response from Microsoft.