Sony BMG has settled with the US Federal Trade Commission after disclosing information about children under 13 without parental consent.
The music giant has coughed up $1million, the largest penalty ever under the Children’s Online Privacy protection Act.The court heard how Sony gathered personal information from more than 30,000 underage children by making them register for sites.
The children were then able to upload photos and videos of themselves without their parent’s knowledge.
“Sites with social networking features, like any Web sites, need to get parental consent before collecting kids’ personal information,” said FTC Chairman William E. Kovacic at the FTC website. “Sony Music is paying the penalty for falling down on its COPPA obligations.”
US law prevents unfair or deceptive acts or practices in connection with the collection, use, or disclosure of personally identifiable information from and about children under 13 on the Internet. The law requires operators to notify parents and obtain their consent before collecting, using, or disclosing children’s personal information.
Sony BMG will pay a $1million civil penalty and is required to delete all personal information collected.
The label is also being investigated for not placing a warning on the Britney Spears `Circus` album. One of the tracks ‘If You Seek Amy’ is sung as ‘F U C K me’.
Britney Spears` core fan base in under the age of 13. The song has been deemed offensive by parents who have complained that there is no parental warning sticker on the album to alert them to the lyrical content of the album.
