Board Thread:Consensus Track/@comment-3485828-20140722174414/@comment-26474238-20140722175459

Elchzard wrote:

GarouxBloodline wrote: We are legally obligated to ban underage users. Many do not take COPPA seriously, but the fact of the matter is that if there is a wiki that refuses to acknowledge COPPA laws, or modifies it in any way to impede the law's intended purpose, then the wiki is opening up channels for legal action should a minor's personal information ever be revealed. Will legal action be taken against this wiki specifically? No; Wikia will take the brunt of that. But I hope everyone realizes that should legal actions ever be taken because this wiki failed to abide by COPPA, then there is always the strong possibility that this wiki will be taken down. Temporarily or permanently is up for whatever particular situation arises. I'm afraid you're wrong on that one. We're not legally obliged to do anything. You should read this blog on community central. Local bans do not enforce COPPA, and therefore there is no legal obligation to any local administrator. Wikia does not want us to police their ToU for them. You are failing to understand me: we are not legally responsible, but we are legally obligated. If Wikia comes under fire from COPPA laws, then actions have to be taken to make sure the situation is contained until the matter has been thoroughly resolved. Just because a wiki is protected by its host, does not mean it will not suffer from legal remifications. If you honestly do not believe this wiki will be either temporarily or permanently shut down should a minor's personal information ever be revealed, then you are sorely mistaken on how serious COPPA laws are treated world-wide.