What are the main metrics or standards to evaluate if a Unity game is targeting children under age 13 ?
Kiwasi
December 1, 2019, 10:00am
3
This is COPPA stuff. Its a minefield. I strongly suggest consulting a lawyer for specific advice if your case is unclear.
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Antypodish and Kiwasi mention PEGI (which is European) and COPPA (which is a U.S.A. law), so keep in mind that regulations and conventions may be completely different from one country/region to the next.
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Ryiah
December 2, 2019, 3:08am
5
This, and it’s only becoming worse. COPPA is currently in the process of bringing out a new law that will massively affect video delivery platforms like YouTube, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it eventually affected video games too. Basically the first metric in my opinion is whether you have the sanity to deal with it all.
https://www.cartoonbrew.com/artist-rights/a-new-youtube-rule-is-threatening-animation-content-creators-heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-coppa-182883.html
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seems like COPPA is targeting videos, but what about games ? what if someone has a website of child games ?
Kiwasi
December 2, 2019, 7:53am
7
Pretty much all online and digital content is targeted.
Ryiah
December 2, 2019, 8:01am
8
I recommend you read through the site I linked because the type of content is not the problem here. YouTube has been collecting data from kids and that’s no longer allowed by COPPA. If you collect data from kids, regardless of whether it’s through the website or the games themselves, you will be just as susceptible to these lawsuits as YouTube.
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If you’re referring to COPPA, the criteria is quite subjective.
https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/complying-coppa-frequently-asked-questions#Web sites and online
https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/16/312.2
Web site or online service directed to children means a commercial Web site or online service, or portion thereof, that is targeted to children.
In determining whether a Web site or online service, or a portion thereof, is directed to children, the Commission will consider its subject matter, visual content, use of animated characters or child-oriented activities and incentives, music or other audio content, age of models, presence of child celebrities or celebrities who appeal to children, language or other characteristics of the Web site or online service, as well as whether advertising promoting or appearing on the Web site or online service is directed to children. The Commission will also consider competent and reliable empirical evidence regarding audience composition, and evidence regarding the intended audience.
A Web site or online service shall be deemed directed to children when it has actual knowledge that it is collecting personal information directly from users of another Web site or online service directed to children.
A Web site or online service that is directed to children under the criteria set forth in paragraph (1) of this definition, but that does not target children as its primary audience, shall not be deemed directed to children if it:
(i) Does not collect personal information from any visitor prior to collecting age information; and
(ii) Prevents the collection, use, or disclosure of personal information from visitors who identify themselves as under age 13 without first complying with the notice and parental consent provisions of this part.
A Web site or online service shall not be deemed directed to children solely because it refers or links to a commercial Web site or online service directed to children by using information location tools, including a directory, index, reference, pointer, or hypertext link.
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