The policy states that Coursera prohibits registration by users under 13, does not knowingly collect personal data from this age group, and states it will remove data collected from under-13 users upon discovery.
This analysis describes what Coursera's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
This provision establishes Coursera's COPPA compliance posture by prohibiting under-13 user registration and committing to data removal upon discovery. The policy does not describe specific age-verification mechanisms, which is an operational consideration for COPPA compliance assessments.
The updated terms now explicitly disclose that Coursera processes communications through voice-enabled features that transcribe audio into text, and clarify that personal data may be shared with third parties including affiliates and business partners. The policy expands descriptions of AI-driven personalization and chatbot applications that use your learning and interaction data. The terms establish that data may be transferred to entities that become Coursera affiliates or subsidiaries during business transitions. You should review the updated guidance that cautions against including unnecessary or sensitive personal data in the platform's free-text and voice-enabled communication features.
View change record →The updated Privacy Notice removes explicit language stating that the policy does not apply to Coursera's Ollie mobile application and no longer directs users to a separate Ollie Privacy Notice for that app. Previously, users of Ollie had clear notice to consult a dedicated privacy policy; that direction is now absent from the main Privacy Notice. The updated notice also narrows the scope of covered entities by removing 'affiliates' from the definition of Coursera, stating the policy now applies to Coursera, Inc., its subsidiaries, and international branches only. Users of the Ollie App should independently verify what privacy terms currently govern that application, as the main Coursera Privacy Notice no longer explicitly addresses Ollie coverage.
View change record →The agreement states Coursera does not knowingly collect data from users under 13 and will delete such data if discovered. Users between 13 and the age of majority may be subject to additional terms depending on jurisdiction.
How other platforms handle this
The Service is intended for general audiences and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child under the age of 13 has provided us with personal information without your cons...
Our Services are not directed to children under 13. If you learn that anyone younger than 13 has unlawfully provided us with personal data, please contact us at privacy@medium.com.
To access and use the Services, you must be at least the age of majority in the state, province, or territory where you live or at least 18 years of age. If you are under the age of 13, you may not use the Services and you should not be visiting the Sites or using the Services.
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"Coursera does not knowingly collect or solicit personal data from anyone under the age of 13 or knowingly allow such persons to register. If we become aware that we have collected personal data from a child under age 13 without parental consent, we take steps to remove that information.— Excerpt from Coursera's Coursera Privacy Notice
REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: This provision directly engages the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), enforced by the FTC, which requires verifiable parental consent before collecting personal information from children under 13. The EU's GDPR includes age-of-consent provisions for digital services that may require consent of a parent or guardian for users under 16 (or a lower threshold set by member states, minimum 13). GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: Low for most deployments. Exposure increases where Coursera is deployed by educational institutions with student populations that may include under-13 users, in which case COPPA and FERPA compliance requires careful assessment of whether Coursera is operating as a school official under a FERPA exception or as a COPPA-covered operator requiring parental consent. JURISDICTION FLAGS: US deployments involving K-12 institutions face the highest exposure. GDPR member states with lower digital consent ages (some allow 13) should confirm Coursera's age-gating mechanisms align with local requirements. CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Educational institutions deploying Coursera for younger students should confirm in their agreements whether Coursera's COPPA compliance relies on the school consent exception under COPPA or requires direct parental consent. Vendor agreements should address what happens to data if an under-age user is discovered. COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Compliance teams at educational institutions should assess whether Coursera's age-verification mechanisms are sufficient for their student populations and whether additional contractual protections or parental consent workflows are needed.
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This provision establishes Coursera's COPPA compliance posture by prohibiting under-13 user registration and committing to data removal upon discovery. The policy does not describe specific age-verification mechanisms, which is an operational consideration for COPPA compliance assessments.
The agreement states Coursera does not knowingly collect data from users under 13 and will delete such data if discovered. Users between 13 and the age of majority may be subject to additional terms depending on jurisdiction.
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