15 USC 6501 - Definitions

U.S Code last checked for updates: Nov 22, 2024

§ 6501.

Definitions

In this chapter:

(1)

Child

(2)

Operator

The term “operator”—

(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—

(i)

among the several States or with 1 or more foreign nations;

(ii)

in any territory of the United States or in the District of Columbia, or between any such territory and—

(I)

another such territory; or

(II)

any State or foreign nation; or

(iii)

between the District of Columbia and any State, territory, or foreign nation; but

(B)

does not include any nonprofit entity that would otherwise be exempt from coverage under section 45 of this title.

(3)

Commission

(4)

Disclosure

The term “disclosure” means, with respect to personal information—

(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

(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—

(i)

a home page of a website;

(ii)

a pen pal service;

(iii)

an electronic mail service;

(iv)

a message board; or

(v)

a chat room.

(5)

Federal agency

(6)

Internet

(7)

Parent

(8)

Personal information

The term “personal information” means individually identifiable information about an individual collected online, including—

(A)

a first and last name;

(B)

a home or other physical address including street name and name of a city or town;

(C)

an e-mail address;

(D)

a telephone number;

(E)

a Social Security number;

(F)

any other identifier that the Commission determines permits the physical or online contacting of a specific individual; or

(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.

(9)

Verifiable parental consent

(10)

Website or online service directed to children

(A)

In general

The term “website or online service directed to children” means—

(i)

a commercial website or online service that is targeted to children; or

(ii)

that portion of a commercial website or online service that is targeted to children.

(B)

Limitation

(11)

Person

(12)

Online contact information

(Pub. L. 105–277, div. C, title XIII, § 1302, Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–728.)

cite as: 15 USC 6501