FTC

Recognizing the advances of commercial practices and technology over the past decade, including smartphones, the Federal Trade Commission has adopted final amendments to the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act to reflect the growing presence of websites geared towards kids. Among the changes to the COPPA Rule, the new regulations expand the list of personal information that cannot be collected by websites without parental notice and consent, clarifying that this category includes geolocation information, photographs, and videos.

For the report (.pdf), released Dec. 10, the FTC surveyed kids' apps in Apple and Google's app stores. A majority of the apps transmitted information from the device to the developer or a third party, such as an advertiser or analytics company. But barely 20 percent of the apps disclosed any information about the app's privacy practices, the FTC says.

Sixty-two of 99 federal agencies haven't implemented Obama administration policies for responding to Freedom of Information Act requests, says George Washington University's National Security Archive government watchdog. In the Archive's latest annual FOIA assessment , it says FOIA compliance is extremely mixed among agencies despite the administration's openness goals.

CAMBRIDGE, MASS. – As part of a Nov. 9  symposium  on privacy and technology held by the  Harvard Law Review , panelists assembled for three discussions on the topic.

A 5-meter rise in sea level would flood 23 federal buildings in Washington, D.C., according to a study in the November issue of Risk Analysis . Even though 5 meters exceeds the likely amount of sea-level rise for the next 100 years, the study (.pdf) says that level could be reached during storms.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers says ahead of a planned Oct. 15  meeting  in Toronto that law enforcement and registrars have found common ground over WHOIS proposals--although privacy watchdogs may continue to have objections.