Microsoft to pay $20 million fine for storing Xbox data for kids

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San Francisco | Microsoft will pay $20 million for allegedly violating privacy by collecting personal information from children who signed up for the Xbox gaming system. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced. The tech giant was accused of violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by illegally storing the personal information of children signed up on Xbox gaming systems without notifying their parents or obtaining their consent. did up

This action should make it abundantly clear that children’s avatars, biometric data and health information are not exempt from COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act), said Samuel Levine, director of the FTC’s Consumer Protection Bureau.

Microsoft will also need to take steps to increase privacy protections for child users of its Xbox systems.

For example, the order would extend COPPA protections to third-party gaming publishers with whom Microsoft shares children’s data.

In addition, the order clarifies that COPPA rules apply when avatars generated from a child’s image, and biometric and health information, are collected along with other personal data.

To notify parents about the personal information they collect for online services and websites directed to children under the age of 13 under the COPPA rule and from using any personal information collected from children It is necessary to obtain verifiable parental consent first.

In addition to monetary penalties, Microsoft will have to notify parents who haven’t created a separate account for their child that doing so will provide additional privacy protections for their child by default.

–IANS

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