The FTC issued a policy statement announcing that it will not enforce the COPPA Rule against website and online service operators that use age verification technologies solely to determine user age, provided they comply with conditions such as limiting data use, ensuring security, and providing clear notice. This policy aims to incentivize age verification tools to protect children online.
Operators must not use age verification data for any other purpose, retain it only as necessary, disclose it only to secure third parties, provide clear notice to parents and children, employ reasonable security safeguards, and ensure the age verification method is accurate.
In-house legal teams should review vendor agreements for age verification services, customer terms of service for websites using such tools, and data processing addendums. Focus on clauses defining data collection purposes, ensuring age data is used solely for age determination without secondary uses like marketing. Examine data sharing restrictions, security obligations (e.g., encryption), notice provisions informing users about age verification, and data retention schedules. Contracts may need amendments to explicitly limit age data use, enhance security requirements, and update privacy notices to reflect COPPA-compliant age verification practices.
Entity
Operators of General Audience and Mixed Audience Sites and Services
Also known as: Online Service Operators
Industry
TechnologyOfficial Press Release
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/02/ftc-issues-coppa-policy-statement-incentivize-use-age-verification-technologies-protect-children
childrens online privacy protection rule coppa
https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/rules/childrens-online-privacy-protection-rule-coppa
age verification workshop
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/events/2026/01/age-verification-workshop
enforcement policy statement promoting adoption age verifica
https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/enforcement-policy-statement-promoting-adoption-age-verification-technology
Federal Trade Commission Enforcement Page
https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement
"operators of general audience sites and services and mixed audience sites and services"
"Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)"
"COPPA Rule"
"collecting, using, or disclosing personal information collected from a child under 13"
The FTC, Utah, and Nevada sued Lens.com Inc., alleging that it advertised artificially low contact lens prices while hiding mandatory checkout charges and misleading consumers about its AutoRefill subscription. The complaint seeks to stop the alleged practices; the court has not yet decided the case, and no penalty or remedy has been imposed.
The FTC issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking seeking public comment on whether ad-optimization tools offered by online platforms may help scammers impersonate businesses and government agencies. This is a proposed regulatory inquiry, not an enforcement action against a named company; no penalty or remedy was imposed.
$2.5B
A federal court approved a revised order in the FTC's Amazon Prime case under which Amazon will accelerate and expand redress payments under the September 2025 $2.5 billion settlement, which resolved allegations that Amazon enrolled millions of consumers in Prime subscriptions without their consent and knowingly made cancellation difficult. More consumers now qualify for refunds, the maximum payment cap rises from $51 to $200, and all future payments will be distributed automatically starting October 1, 2026, with potential supplemental $149 payments by April 2027. Amazon has already issued more than $845 million in redress payments as of September 2026.
$225.0M
The FTC and the state of Washington filed a joint complaint and proposed stipulated order requiring Amway Corp. and two affiliates—World Wide Group, L.L.C. (WWG) and Leadership Team Development Inc. (LTD)—to pay a $225 million judgment, the largest monetary recovery ever obtained from an MLM in an FTC action, over allegations that they used deceptive earnings claims and unfair tactics to recruit Independent Business Owners. The complaint alleges the companies falsely promised substantial income and recruitment success, pressured IBOs to buy products they could not resell, and instructed IBOs to falsely report sales. Nearly all of the judgment will be used as redress for IBOs who lost money, and the proposed order imposes structural reforms including a 70% resale requirement, independent audits of sales records, and a ban on approved providers charging new IBOs for first-year training.
$100.0M
FleetCor Technologies Inc. (now Corpay Inc.) and its CEO Ronald Clarke agreed to pay $100 million to settle an FTC administrative action alleging the company charged small business customers hidden and unauthorized fees for fuel cards and misrepresented gas savings, fraud-control features, and fees. A federal district court granted the FTC summary judgment on all counts in 2023, and a federal appeals court upheld that judgment and the permanent injunction in 2026. The settlement funds will be used to provide redress to harmed business customers.
FTC staff published FAQs on price transparency to help the automobile industry comply with the FTC Act, reiterating that an advertised vehicle price must be the actual price any consumer can pay, excluding only government-required charges. The guidance follows warning letters the FTC sent to 97 auto dealership groups earlier in 2026 and signals continued litigation against dealers that advertise one price but charge more through undisclosed fees. No specific entity was charged and no penalty was imposed.