FTC 2026 age-verification policy statement

A 2026 FTC policy statement on age verification, separate from the COPPA Rule itself. Policy statements guide enforcement discretion; they are not rules.

Status

Legal status

Issued; enforcement discretion only; does not amend the COPPA Rule (February 25, 2026)

Allegation or finding

Announcement

Applicability

States the FTC enforcement posture; no direct compliance duty

Enforceability

Informational

Law checked through

October 12, 2026

Citation

FTC COPPA policy statement

Source

FTC policy statement (February 25, 2026); Hunton; Mayer Brown

Related guides

• Age Assurance and Children by Design

Related topics

• Children, Teens, and Age Verification
• Federal, Multistate, and Cross-Border Rules

Related records

• COPPA statute and amended rule