What is a COPPA Safe Harbor and why work with one?

Collecting personal information from children online intentionally or unintentionally is fraught with risks for digital services. Joining an FTC approved COPPA Safe Harbor mitigates those risks, protects brands, builds trust and integrity, supporting business growth and most importantly helps to protect children. There are many benefits to joining an FTC approved COPPA safe harbor program but what is it?

The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, known as COPPA, includes a “Safe Harbor” provision that allows industry groups and others to seek Commission approval of self-regulatory guidelines that implement “the same or greater protections for children” as those contained in the COPPA Rule enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), states and certain federal agencies.

Companies and organizations that participate in an FTC-approved COPPA Safe Harbor program will, in most circumstances, be subject to the review and procedures provided in the Safe Harbor’s guidelines in lieu of formal FTC investigation and enforcement actions and fines. 

COPPA Safe Harbor is now more important than ever as the the FTC published the updated COPPA Rule in April and online services need to comply with the updates by April 22, 2026, that’s less than a year to get in shape for the changes. 

Why work with a COPPA Safe Harbor?
Once certified by a Safe Harbor the online service is considered compliant with COPPA. Programs support online services to meet the requirements of the regulation and stay compliant. Companies that comply avoid exposure to heavy fines and brand damage. Certification helps to build brand trust and integrity with users, parents, regulators and industry.

By definition, “safe harbor” allows for time to remediate if a compliance issue arises. In the fast-paced world of technology, changes and releases can mean controls are rolled back or a software bug occurs. Robust compliance monitoring looks for issues and supports to resolve in a timely manner. 

Supporting members to assess risk and  implement compliant solutions is also an important aspect of a Safe Harbor’s work. Any member in good standing of a Safe Harbor program will agree that it is not a “free pass.” Companies working with a Safe Harbor are investing resources in the form of legal, executive, product, program and engineering time to build privacy protections into the service and avoid potential compliance violations. 

Success of a Safe Harbor program should be measured by its record of successful remediation to ensure a privacy protected ecosystem for children.  

PRIVO’s COPPA Safe Harbor Certification Program
PRIVO has been an FTC-approved COPPA Safe Harbor since 2004, trusted by leading family brands, certifying hundreds of apps, sites, games, and other online services. Program members agree to submit to PRIVO’s oversight and consumer dispute resolution process. Members must meet robust standards to assure that their services are fully compliant. PRIVO offers a privacy partnership and supports on training, educating and consulting to help build privacy and safety by design into services.

PRIVO monitors the service throughout the membership to ensure ongoing compliance. The Kids Privacy Assured team continues to support the compliant collection of personal information, disclosure, privacy notices, consent, marketing and the implementation of third parties and service providers to allow business and organizations to meet objectives. 

PRIVO handles dispute resolution, inquiries from consumers, schools and regulators who have questions about the collection, use and/or disclosure of personal information. In fact, the Safe Harbor process of assess, identify, remediate, certify, repeat is the very engine which in turn supports the delivery of compliant and privacy protected experiences for children.  

Companies that join a Safe Harbor program have committed to doing the work required to get their houses in order while building trust, engagement and lifetime value.

Why it matters now more than ever
COPPA compliance is not a one-and-done checkbox—it’s a continuous commitment. As the FTC's updated Rule brings stricter enforcement and higher expectations, companies cannot afford to wait. Working with a COPPA Safe Harbor now gives you a clear roadmap to compliance, expert oversight, and a process to address any issues and exposure to fines and actions. It’s not just about meeting the April 2026 deadline, it’s about protecting your users, your reputation, and your business.

Learn more about PRIVO’s COPPA Safe Harbor program.