xanga gets fined for coppa violation

A social networking site, xanga, will reportedly pay a fine of US $1 million after the Federal Trade Commission found they’d violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by “collecting, using and disclosing personal information collected from children under age 13”.

In a written statement, FTC Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras said the law “requires all commercial Web sites, including operators of social networking sites like Xanga, to give parents notice and obtain their consent before collecting personal information from kids they know are under 13.”