FTC Refers Snap Case Over AI Chatbot to Justice Department (1)

The US Federal Trade Commission said it had referred a potential child privacy lawsuit against Snap Inc. to the Justice Department, stemming from the company’s My AI chatbot.

The agency enforces the US Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, or Coppa, which requires online service providers to obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting, using or disclosing personal information from children under 13. But the FTC must refer cases to the Justice Department to litigate on its behalf when companies violate their settlements or in order to obtain civil penalties.

The agency’s three Democratic commissioners all voted to refer the matter, while ...