NEWARK, N.J. (Legal Newsline) — New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and the Division of Consumer Affairs announced May 8 that Meitu Inc., a software and consumer electronic company based in China, will pay $100,000 after allegations of violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act (CFA).
“Young children may be adept at downloading apps and accessing the Internet, but they don’t always recognize the dangers that lurk there,” Grewal said in a statement. “Our commitment is to ensure that the apps used by children do not expose their personal information to advertisers, identity thieves, or others seeking to improperly track them online.”
According to Grewal’s office, Meitu collected the personal information of children who downloaded its apps, without obtaining consent or notifying the children’s parents.
“This settlement sends a clear message that we will not allow app developers to skirt the laws designed to protect the privacy of children online,” Kevin Jespersen, acting director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, said in a statement. “As a result of our investigation, Meitu has agreed to come into compliance with privacy law, and we hope and expect that any other app companies unlawfully collecting or sharing users’ information will follow suit.”