{"identifier":"/us/usc/t15/s6501","title":15,"num":"\u00a7\u202f6501.","heading":"Definitions","text":"\u00a7\u202f6501.\nDefinitions\nIn this chapter:\n(1)\nChild\nThe term \u201cchild\u201d means an individual under the age of 13.\n(2)\nOperator\nThe term \u201coperator\u201d\u2014\n(A) means any person who operates a website located on the Internet or an online service and who collects or maintains personal information from or about the users of or visitors to such website or online service, or on whose behalf such information is collected or maintained, where such website or online service is operated for commercial purposes, including any person offering products or services for sale through that website or online service, involving commerce\u2014\n(i) among the several States or with 1 or more foreign nations;\n(ii) in any territory of the United States or in the District of Columbia, or between any such territory and\u2014\n(I) another such territory; or\n(II) any State or foreign nation; or\n(iii) between the District of Columbia and any State, territory, or foreign nation; but\n(B) does not include any nonprofit entity that would otherwise be exempt from coverage under\nsection 45 of this title\n(3)\nCommission\nThe term \u201cCommission\u201d means the Federal Trade Commission.\n(4)\nDisclosure\nThe term \u201cdisclosure\u201d means, with respect to personal information\u2014\n(A) the release of personal information collected from a child in identifiable form by an operator for any purpose, except where such information is provided to a person other than the operator who provides support for the internal operations of the website and does not disclose or use that information for any other purpose; and\n(B) making personal information collected from a child by a website or online service directed to children or with actual knowledge that such information was collected from a child, publicly available in identifiable form, by any means including by a public posting, through the Internet, or through\u2014\n(i) a home page of a website;\n(ii) a pen pal service;\n(iii) an electronic mail service;\n(iv) a message board; or\n(v) a chat room.\n(5)\nFederal agency\nThe term \u201cFederal agency\u201d means an agency, as that term is defined in\nsection 551(1) of title 5\n(6)\nInternet\nThe term \u201cInternet\u201d means collectively the myriad of computer and telecommunications facilities, including equipment and operating software, which comprise the interconnected world-wide network of networks that employ the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol, or any predecessor or successor protocols to such protocol, to communicate information of all kinds by wire or radio.\n(7)\nParent\nThe term \u201cparent\u201d includes a legal guardian.\n(8)\nPersonal information\nThe term \u201cpersonal information\u201d means individually identifiable information about an individual collected online, including\u2014\n(A) a first and last name;\n(B) a home or other physical address including street name and name of a city or town;\n(C) an e-mail address;\n(D) a telephone number;\n(E) a Social Security number;\n(F) any other identifier that the Commission determines permits the physical or online contacting of a specific individual; or\n(G) information concerning the child or the parents of that child that the website collects online from the child and combines with an identifier described in this paragraph.\n(9)\nVerifiable parental consent\nThe term \u201cverifiable parental consent\u201d means any reasonable effort (taking into consideration available technology), including a request for authorization for future collection, use, and disclosure described in the notice, to ensure that a parent of a child receives notice of the operator\u2019s personal information collection, use, and disclosure practices, and authorizes the collection, use, and disclosure, as applicable, of personal information and the subsequent use of that information before that information is collected from that child.\n(10)\nWebsite or online service directed to children\n(A)\nIn general\nThe term \u201cwebsite or online service directed to children\u201d means\u2014\n(i) a commercial website or online service that is targeted to children; or\n(ii) that portion of a commercial website or online service that is targeted to children.\n(B)\nLimitation\nA commercial website or online service, or a portion of a commercial website or online service, shall not be deemed directed to children solely for referring or linking to a commercial website or online service directed to children by using information location tools, including a directory, index, reference, pointer, or hypertext link.\n(11)\nPerson\nThe term \u201cperson\u201d means any individual, partnership, corporation, trust, estate, cooperative, association, or other entity.\n(12)\nOnline contact information\nThe term \u201conline contact information\u201d means an e-mail address or another substantially similar identifier that permits direct contact with a person online.","url":"https://projectusc.org/usc/t15/s6501.html","content":[{"t":"sec","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501","children":[{"t":"num","text":"\u00a7\u202f6501."},{"t":"heading","text":"Definitions","tail":"\n"},{"t":"chapeau","text":"In this chapter:"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/1","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(1)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Child"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"The term \u201cchild\u201d means an individual under the age of 13.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/2","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(2)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Operator"},{"t":"chapeau","text":"The term \u201coperator\u201d\u2014"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/2/A","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(A)"},{"t":"chapeau","text":" means any person who operates a website located on the Internet or an online service and who collects or maintains personal information from or about the users of or visitors to such website or online service, or on whose behalf such information is collected or maintained, where such website or online service is operated for commercial purposes, including any person offering products or services for sale through that website or online service, involving commerce\u2014"},{"t":"clause","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/2/A/i","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(i)"},{"t":"content","text":" among the several States or with 1 or more foreign nations;","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"clause","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/2/A/ii","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(ii)"},{"t":"chapeau","text":" in any territory of the United States or in the District of Columbia, or between any such territory and\u2014"},{"t":"subclause","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/2/A/ii/I","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(I)"},{"t":"content","text":" another such territory; or","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subclause","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/2/A/ii/II","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(II)"},{"t":"content","text":" any State or foreign nation; or","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"clause","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/2/A/iii","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(iii)"},{"t":"content","text":" between the District of Columbia and any State, territory, or foreign nation; but","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/2/B","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(B)"},{"t":"content","text":" does not include any nonprofit entity that would otherwise be exempt from coverage under ","children":[{"t":"ref","text":"section 45 of this title","href":"/us/usc/t15/s45","tail":"."}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/3","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(3)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Commission"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"The term \u201cCommission\u201d means the Federal Trade Commission.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/4","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(4)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Disclosure"},{"t":"chapeau","text":"The term \u201cdisclosure\u201d means, with respect to personal information\u2014"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/4/A","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(A)"},{"t":"content","text":" the release of personal information collected from a child in identifiable form by an operator for any purpose, except where such information is provided to a person other than the operator who provides support for the internal operations of the website and does not disclose or use that information for any other purpose; and","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/4/B","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(B)"},{"t":"chapeau","text":" making personal information collected from a child by a website or online service directed to children or with actual knowledge that such information was collected from a child, publicly available in identifiable form, by any means including by a public posting, through the Internet, or through\u2014"},{"t":"clause","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/4/B/i","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(i)"},{"t":"content","text":" a home page of a website;","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"clause","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/4/B/ii","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(ii)"},{"t":"content","text":" a pen pal service;","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"clause","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/4/B/iii","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(iii)"},{"t":"content","text":" an electronic mail service;","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"clause","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/4/B/iv","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(iv)"},{"t":"content","text":" a message board; or","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"clause","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/4/B/v","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(v)"},{"t":"content","text":" a chat room.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/5","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(5)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Federal agency"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"The term \u201cFederal agency\u201d means an agency, as that term is defined in ","children":[{"t":"ref","text":"section 551(1) of title 5","href":"/us/usc/t5/s551/1","tail":"."}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/6","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(6)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Internet"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"The term \u201cInternet\u201d means collectively the myriad of computer and telecommunications facilities, including equipment and operating software, which comprise the interconnected world-wide network of networks that employ the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol, or any predecessor or successor protocols to such protocol, to communicate information of all kinds by wire or radio.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/7","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(7)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Parent"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"The term \u201cparent\u201d includes a legal guardian.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/8","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(8)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Personal information"},{"t":"chapeau","text":"The term \u201cpersonal information\u201d means individually identifiable information about an individual collected online, including\u2014"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/8/A","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(A)"},{"t":"content","text":" a first and last name;","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/8/B","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(B)"},{"t":"content","text":" a home or other physical address including street name and name of a city or town;","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/8/C","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(C)"},{"t":"content","text":" an e-mail address;","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/8/D","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(D)"},{"t":"content","text":" a telephone number;","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/8/E","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(E)"},{"t":"content","text":" a Social Security number;","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/8/F","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(F)"},{"t":"content","text":" any other identifier that the Commission determines permits the physical or online contacting of a specific individual; or","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/8/G","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(G)"},{"t":"content","text":" information concerning the child or the parents of that child that the website collects online from the child and combines with an identifier described in this paragraph.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/9","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(9)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Verifiable parental consent"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"The term \u201cverifiable parental consent\u201d means any reasonable effort (taking into consideration available technology), including a request for authorization for future collection, use, and disclosure described in the notice, to ensure that a parent of a child receives notice of the operator\u2019s personal information collection, use, and disclosure practices, and authorizes the collection, use, and disclosure, as applicable, of personal information and the subsequent use of that information before that information is collected from that child.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/10","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(10)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Website or online service directed to children"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/10/A","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(A)"},{"t":"heading","text":"In general"},{"t":"chapeau","text":"The term \u201cwebsite or online service directed to children\u201d means\u2014"},{"t":"clause","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/10/A/i","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(i)"},{"t":"content","text":" a commercial website or online service that is targeted to children; or","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"clause","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/10/A/ii","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(ii)"},{"t":"content","text":" that portion of a commercial website or online service that is targeted to children.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/10/B","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(B)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Limitation"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"A commercial website or online service, or a portion of a commercial website or online service, shall not be deemed directed to children solely for referring or linking to a commercial website or online service directed to children by using information location tools, including a directory, index, reference, pointer, or hypertext link.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/11","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(11)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Person"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"The term \u201cperson\u201d means any individual, partnership, corporation, trust, estate, cooperative, association, or other entity.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t15/s6501/12","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(12)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Online contact information"},{"t":"content","children":[{"t":"p","text":"The term \u201conline contact information\u201d means an e-mail address or another substantially similar identifier that permits direct contact with a person online.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"text","text":"\n"},{"t":"text","text":"\n"}]}]}