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Exceptions to Permission Required

Exceptions for Email and Other Contact Information

Sometimes Web sites need to collect and use a child's email address to contact parents or to help them with their homework by sending a requested document. Your child's email can be used without your permission by Web sites for these limited purposes -- but they are the exception, not the rule. More on these exceptions:

• To Get Your Permission: A Web site can email your child to get your permission to collect information or provide you with notice of that collection. But the e-mail message should be for that purpose only.
• Responding with Homework Help: Often young children ask Web sites for homework help. Those Web sites may respond to your child's request by way of email -- but only to fulfill that request! Beyond responding to that first request for help, the site must get your permission before emailing your child again.
• Newsletters: Does your child receive email newsletters? If so, your child probably asked the Web site to email it. But, the Web site must give you notice of the child's newsletter request and give you the opportunity to stop them from using the child's email address.