E-commerce software firm eFusion Inc., Beaverton, OR, will offer its Push to Talk service to e-commerce sites that want to make sure they are complying with the Federal Trade Commission's recent law concerning children and Internet marketing.
In April, the FTC announced the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. The ruling requires commercial Web sites to obtain parental consent before collecting, using or disclosing personal information from children under age 13. Fines can amount to $10,000 per violation.
Push to Talk employs a pop-up window that alerts parents, while they inspect their children's online viewing habits, to contact the Web site about the possible release of their children's information, which can be used for marketing purposes.
The system also allows parents to give this permission through a digital signature, a Web-based personal identification number or an e-mail, as well as mailed or faxed permission slips that can be printed from the sites.
