Amazon, Microsoft Deals on Kids’ Data Send Warning to Big Tech

Multimillion dollar settlements against Microsoft and Amazon offer insights for tech companies as the Federal Trade Commission ramps up its enforcement efforts to protect kids’ data.

Those cases, as well as a deal with educational-tech platform Edmodo, actualize a commitment the FTC made last year to enforce the “full breadth” of the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. The 1998 statute requires online businesses to adhere to a set of guidelines that aim to give parents direct control over how data about their children under age 13 is collected and retained.

The commission has already brought more COPPA enforcement actions ...