Arkansas Online Privacy Act Expands Privacy Protections for Children and Teens
On April 21, 2025, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed into law the Arkansas Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (HB 1717), which will take effect on July 1, 2026. This legislation expands upon the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by extending privacy protections to teens aged 13 to 16.
Key Provisions:
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Age Groups Covered: Children under 13 and teens aged 13 to 16.
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Applicability: Applies to operators of websites, online services, or applications directed at children or teens, or those with actual knowledge of collecting personal information from these age groups.
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Prohibitions: Forbids the collection of personal information from minors for targeted advertising purposes.
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Data Minimization: Limits data collection to what is reasonably necessary for the specific service or transaction.
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Parental Consent: Requires verifiable parental consent before collecting, using, or disclosing personal information from minors.
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Enforcement: Enforced exclusively by the Arkansas Attorney General; no private right of action is established.
