4 ms·

I set my age to about 3 months old in Skype and got locked out. They need my CC to verify my age because of COPA (child online protection act in the US) or some

by tpxl 5y ago

I set my age to about 3 months old in Skype and got locked out. They need my CC to verify my age because of COPA (child online protection act in the US) or something.

sp332 5y ago
But other websites don't do this, so I don't think it's a COPPA thing.
- kodah 5y ago
  That would be COPPA. > In 2019, the Government of the State of New York sued YouTube for violating COPPA by illegally retaining information related to children under 13 years of age. YouTube responded by dividing its content strictly into "for kids" and "not for kids". This has met with extremely harsh criticism from the YouTube community, especially from gamers, with many alleging that the FTC of the United States intends to fine content creators $42,530 for "each mislabeled video", possibly putting all users at risk.[58][59][60] However, some have expressed skepticism over this, feeling that the fines may actually be in reference to civil penalties, possibly intended for the site's operators and/or warranted by more serious of COPPA violations or specific cases of "mislabeling videos."[61][62][63] As of July 2020, nobody has got the $42k fine.[64] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children's_Online_Privacy_Protection_Act https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children's_Online_Privacy_Pr...
- 4ec0755f5522 5y ago
  I had this happen on a gaming forum, they upgraded to new forum software and pushed users through a 'update your account' flow. I accidentally set my year to the wrong number and ended up locked out of what had been a long-term username. It was bad, actually, because they had developed a system where your username on the system was tied to your in-game nickname as well so I ended up locked out of both and had to create a new username/nick. The admin of the website literally said "there's nothing I can do". I'm sure this isn't to do with the law specifically but just some limitation of their tools.
  - emteycz 5y ago
    > The admin of the website literally said "there's nothing I can do". I'm sure this isn't to do with the law specifically but just some limitation of their tools. At the gaming forum I helped to run around 10 years ago we consulted a lawyer and this [asking for birthdate but not allowing birthdate changes] was the only way to keep out of serious trouble and to not need ID verification.
    - rhizome 5y ago
      Hah, that probably explains all the age-disclaimers on dating sites. I had assumed it was just "login with Facebook" people not being allowed to change their birthdate by Facebook, but as it turns out that may have been unjust (though FB itself might also prevent bday changes for the same reason).
      - emteycz 5y ago
        It is definitely that at least with Tinder.
mvanbaak 5y ago
Skype is not Apple though
- swiley 5y ago
  Anything on an iphone is Apple. They dictate content, UI design, architecture and moderation policy for all the apps on the device.
  - emteycz 5y ago
    No, Apple doesn't dictate credit card verification requirements. Actually they are quite opposed.
    - serf 5y ago
      >No, Apple doesn't dictate credit card verification requirements. that's the point parent was making; Apple made a decision about such things when allowing an app within their ecosystem that makes such choices (Skype, in this case).
      - tonyaiken 5y ago
        Allowing something to happen isn’t dictating IMO.
        swiley 5y ago
        It is when you're very strict about what you allow to happen. (which is the case with iOS apps.)
    - swiley 5y ago
      Apparently they have specifically allowed it in this case. Otherwise there would be no iOS Skype app.

by tpxl 5y ago

I set my age to about 3 months old in Skype and got locked out. They need my CC to verify my age because of COPA (child online protection act in the US) or something.

sp332 5y ago

But other websites don't do this, so I don't think it's a COPPA thing.

kodah 5y ago
That would be COPPA. > In 2019, the Government of the State of New York sued YouTube for violating COPPA by illegally retaining information related to children under 13 years of age. YouTube responded by dividing its content strictly into "for kids" and "not for kids". This has met with extremely harsh criticism from the YouTube community, especially from gamers, with many alleging that the FTC of the United States intends to fine content creators $42,530 for "each mislabeled video", possibly putting all users at risk.[58][59][60] However, some have expressed skepticism over this, feeling that the fines may actually be in reference to civil penalties, possibly intended for the site's operators and/or warranted by more serious of COPPA violations or specific cases of "mislabeling videos."[61][62][63] As of July 2020, nobody has got the $42k fine.[64] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children's_Online_Privacy_Protection_Act https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children's_Online_Privacy_Pr...
4ec0755f5522 5y ago
I had this happen on a gaming forum, they upgraded to new forum software and pushed users through a 'update your account' flow. I accidentally set my year to the wrong number and ended up locked out of what had been a long-term username. It was bad, actually, because they had developed a system where your username on the system was tied to your in-game nickname as well so I ended up locked out of both and had to create a new username/nick. The admin of the website literally said "there's nothing I can do". I'm sure this isn't to do with the law specifically but just some limitation of their tools.
- emteycz 5y ago
  > The admin of the website literally said "there's nothing I can do". I'm sure this isn't to do with the law specifically but just some limitation of their tools. At the gaming forum I helped to run around 10 years ago we consulted a lawyer and this [asking for birthdate but not allowing birthdate changes] was the only way to keep out of serious trouble and to not need ID verification.
  - rhizome 5y ago
    Hah, that probably explains all the age-disclaimers on dating sites. I had assumed it was just "login with Facebook" people not being allowed to change their birthdate by Facebook, but as it turns out that may have been unjust (though FB itself might also prevent bday changes for the same reason).
    - emteycz 5y ago
      It is definitely that at least with Tinder.

mvanbaak 5y ago

Skype is not Apple though

swiley 5y ago
Anything on an iphone is Apple. They dictate content, UI design, architecture and moderation policy for all the apps on the device.
- emteycz 5y ago
  No, Apple doesn't dictate credit card verification requirements. Actually they are quite opposed.
  - serf 5y ago
    >No, Apple doesn't dictate credit card verification requirements. that's the point parent was making; Apple made a decision about such things when allowing an app within their ecosystem that makes such choices (Skype, in this case).
    - tonyaiken 5y ago
      Allowing something to happen isn’t dictating IMO.
      - swiley 5y ago
        It is when you're very strict about what you allow to happen. (which is the case with iOS apps.)
  - swiley 5y ago
    Apparently they have specifically allowed it in this case. Otherwise there would be no iOS Skype app.