--- title: "15 U.S.C. 6503 COPPA: Safe harbors" canonical: "https://dposchool.com/coppa/section/6503" source: "https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/119-136/t15/s6503/" source_note: "Source: United States Code, title 15, published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives (uscode.house.gov), release point 119-136. The editorial and statutory notes are not reproduced. Source: Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), title 16, up to date as of 29 October 2026, from the eCFR API (ecfr.gov). The eCFR is an editorial compilation of the CFR and Federal Register amendments, not an official legal edition of the CFR." text_as_of: "2026-10-22" language: "en" publisher: "DPO School" --- 15 U.S.C. 6503 COPPA · Chapter 91: CHILDREN’S ONLINE PRIVACY PROTECTION # 15 U.S.C. 6503 COPPA: Safe harbors United States Code, current through Public Law 119-136 (October 22, 2026). Retrieved 30 October 2026. ## Official text ### 15 U.S.C. 6503(a) **(a)** Guidelines An operator may satisfy the requirements of regulations issued under section 6502(b) of this title by following a set of self-regulatory guidelines, issued by representatives of the marketing or online industries, or by other persons, approved under subsection (b). ### 15 U.S.C. 6503(b) **(b)** Incentives #### 15 U.S.C. 6503(b)(1) **(1)** Self-regulatory incentives In prescribing regulations under section 6502 of this title, the Commission shall provide incentives for self-regulation by operators to implement the protections afforded children under the regulatory requirements described in subsection (b) of that section. #### 15 U.S.C. 6503(b)(2) **(2)** Deemed compliance Such incentives shall include provisions for ensuring that a person will be deemed to be in compliance with the requirements of the regulations under section 6502 of this title if that person complies with guidelines that, after notice and comment, are approved by the Commission upon making a determination that the guidelines meet the requirements of the regulations issued under section 6502 of this title. #### 15 U.S.C. 6503(b)(3) **(3)** Expedited response to requests The Commission shall act upon requests for safe harbor treatment within 180 days of the filing of the request, and shall set forth in writing its conclusions with regard to such requests. ### 15 U.S.C. 6503(c) **(c)** Appeals Final action by the Commission on a request for approval of guidelines, or the failure to act within 180 days on a request for approval of guidelines, submitted under subsection (b) may be appealed to a district court of the United States of appropriate jurisdiction as provided for in section 706 of title 5. ## Source Source: United States Code, title 15, published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives (uscode.house.gov), release point 119-136. The editorial and statutory notes are not reproduced. Source credit: ( Pub. L. 105-277, div. C, title XIII, § 1304 , Oct. 21, 1998 , 112 Stat. 2681–732 .) [15 U.S.C. 6503 on the Office of the Law Revision Counsel](https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/119-136/t15/s6503/) United States Code, current through Public Law 119-136 (October 22, 2026). Retrieved 30 October 2026. This is reference material, not legal advice. ## Navigation [COPPA Navigator](https://dposchool.com/coppa) / 15 U.S.C. 6503 Previous: [15 U.S.C. 6502 COPPA: Regulation of unfair and deceptive acts and practices in connection with collection and use of personal information from and about children on the Internet](https://dposchool.com/coppa/section/6502) Next: [15 U.S.C. 6504 COPPA: Actions by States](https://dposchool.com/coppa/section/6504) ## For AI agents - Machine-readable index: https://dposchool.com/coppa/llms.txt - JSON API: https://dposchool.com/coppa/api/v1/index.json - Vendor privacy and security facts: https://vendor.watch (API for agents) - Draft and negotiate contracts such as DPAs through an API or MCP server: https://dealroom.todo.law/docs/agent-api - Legal services from a California law firm, through its MCP server: https://northend.law/agents