2022-26254. Petition for Rulemaking of the Center for Digital Democracy, Fairplay, et al.

AGENCY:

Federal Trade Commission.

ACTION:

Receipt of petition; request for comment.

SUMMARY:

Please take notice that the Federal Trade Commission (“Commission”) received a petition for rulemaking from the Center for Digital Democracy, Fairplay, Accountable Tech, American Academy of Pediatrics, Becca Schmill Foundation, Inc., Berkeley Media Studies Group, C. Everett Koop Institute at Dartmouth, Center for Humane Technology, Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development, Eating Disorders Coalition, Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), LookUp.live, Lynn's Warriors, Network for Public Education, Parent Coalition for Student Privacy, ParentsTogether, Protect Young Eyes, Public Citizen, Together for Girls, UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health, and U.S. Public Interest Research Group (collectively, “Petitioners”), and has published that petition online at https://www.regulations.gov. This petition asks the Commission to promulgate a rule prohibiting the use of certain types of engagement-optimizing design practices on individuals under the age of 18 (“minors”) in connection with internet services. The Commission invites written comments concerning the petition. Publication of this petition is pursuant to the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure and does not affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

DATES:

Comments must identify the petition docket number and be filed by January 3, 2023.

ADDRESSES:

You may view the petition, identified by docket number FTC-2022-0073, and submit written comments concerning its merits by using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Do not submit sensitive or confidential information. You may read background documents or comments received at https://www.regulations.gov at any time.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Daniel Freer (phone: [phone], email: [e-mail]), Office of the Secretary, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Pursuant to Section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C. 57a(1)(B), and FTC Rule 1.31(f), 16 CFR 1.31(f), notice is hereby given that the above-captioned petition has been filed with the Secretary of the Commission and has been placed on the public record for a period of 30 days. Any person may submit comments in support of or in opposition to the petition. All timely and responsive comments submitted in connection with this petition will become part of the public record.

The Commission will not consider the petition's merits until after the comment period closes. It may grant or deny the petition in whole or in part, and it may deem the petition insufficient to warrant commencement of a rulemaking proceeding. The purpose of this document is to facilitate public comment on the petition to aid the Commission in determining what, if any, action to take regarding the request contained in the petition. This document is not intended to start, stop, cancel, or otherwise affect rulemaking proceedings in any way.

Because your comment will be placed on the publicly accessible website at https://www.regulations.gov, you are solely responsible for making sure your comment does not include any sensitive or confidential information. In particular, your comment should not include any sensitive personal information, such as your or anyone else's Social Security number; date of birth; driver's license number or other state identification number, or foreign country equivalent; passport number; financial account number; or credit or debit card number. You are also solely responsible for making sure your comment does not include any sensitive health information, such as medical records or other individually identifiable health information. In addition, your comment should not include any “trade secret or any commercial or financial information which . . . is privileged or confidential”—as provided by Section 6(f) of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. 46(f), and FTC Rule 4.10(a)(2), 16 CFR 4.10(a)(2).

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 46; 15 U.S.C. 57a; 5 U.S.C. 601 note.

April J. Tabor,

Secretary.