An estimated 80 million U.S. adults use the Internet, according to an FTC report last year. Obtain verifiable parental consent in the form of a signed authorization form mailed or faxed to a Web site before collecting and using a child's personal information. Provide parents access to the personal information collected from their children and the right to prevent further use. Congress passed the law in 1998. Mr. Pitofsky said the agency will monitor Web sites used by children.
Privacy is a huge concern.
That problem is unlikely to go away, despite the law. The Internet is no different. If someone wants to lie about their age, they will find a way to do it. The best protection is at the computer, and mom and dad need to supervise their kids. This law shouldn't be seen as a safety net.