What can I do about this clause?

{'method': 'EMAIL', 'recipient': 'privacy@duolingo.com', 'difficulty': 'MODERATE', 'action_type': 'DELETE_DATA', 'instructions': "Parents can request deletion of a child's account data by emailing privacy@duolingo.com with the child's username and a statement of parental authority. Duolingo is required under COPPA to honor these requests promptly.", 'deadline_days': 30, 'deadline_hours': None}

Which regulatory agencies enforce this type of clause?

{'agency': 'FTC', 'reason': "The FTC enforces COPPA (16 CFR Part 312), which governs collection of personal information from children under 13, and has direct enforcement authority over Duolingo's children's data practices.", 'complaint_url': 'https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/'}, {'agency': 'DOE', 'reason': 'The Department of Education enforces FERPA for student education records, which applies to Duolingo for Schools when used by educational institutions.', 'complaint_url': 'https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/file-a-complaint'}

What is the severity of this clause?

ConductAtlas classifies this Children's Privacy and COPPA Compliance clause as high severity. Severity reflects the magnitude of rights affected, the breadth of users impacted, and the degree of discretion the platform retains.

Do other platforms have similar clauses?

Yes. ConductAtlas has identified similar Children's Privacy and COPPA Compliance clauses across approximately 6 other tracked platforms. You can compare how platforms differ on this clause type in the cross-platform comparison view.

Children's Privacy and COPPA Compliance — Duolingo

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What it is

Duolingo says it does not intentionally collect data from children under 13 without a parent's permission, and will delete such data if discovered. A separate child-friendly experience and family account management tools are available.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Parents using Duolingo for their children need to be aware that the standard app may collect data before age verification is complete, and should use Duolingo's family account features and verify parental consent mechanisms are functioning as described.

What you can do

⚠️ These actions may provide transparency or partial mitigation but may not fully address the underlying issue. Effectiveness varies by jurisdiction and individual circumstances.

Delete Your Data
Within 30 days
Parents can request deletion of a child's account data by emailing privacy@duolingo.com with the child's username and a statement of parental authority. Duolingo is required under COPPA to honor these requests promptly.

Cross-platform context

See how other platforms handle Children's Privacy and COPPA Compliance and similar clauses.

Compare across platforms →

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Why it matters (compliance & risk perspective)

COPPA compliance is a federal legal obligation — failures can result in significant FTC fines, and children's data warrants the highest level of protection given their vulnerability.

View original clause language

Duolingo does not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13 without parental consent. If we learn we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without parental consent, we will delete that information as soon as possible. We offer a separate experience for younger users, and parents can manage their child's account through our family features.

Institutional analysis (Compliance & legal intelligence)

REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: COPPA (15 U.S.C. §6501 et seq. and 16 CFR Part 312) requires verifiable parental consent before collecting personal information from children under 13. FERPA (20 U.S.C. §1232g) applies to Duolingo for Schools where student education records are involved. GDPR Art. 8 sets age of digital consent at 16 (or lower with member state derogation, minimum 13). UK Age Appropriate Design Code (Children's Code) applies to UK users under 18. Primary enforcers: FTC (COPPA), DOE (FERPA), ICO (UK Children's Code), EU DPAs.

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Applicable agencies

FTC

The FTC enforces COPPA (16 CFR Part 312), which governs collection of personal information from children under 13, and has direct enforcement authority over Duolingo's children's data practices.
File a complaint →
Doe

The Department of Education enforces FERPA for student education records, which applies to Duolingo for Schools when used by educational institutions.
File a complaint →

Provision details

Document information

Document

Duolingo Privacy Policy

Entity

Duolingo

Document last updated

April 29, 2026

Tracking information

First tracked

April 18, 2026

Last verified

April 18, 2026

Record ID

CA-P-002766

Document ID

CA-D-00084

Evidence Provenance

Source URL

https://www.duolingo.com/privacy

Wayback Machine

View archived versions →

SHA-256

18dc44f61316909c4efd9113eadb61be0022e2b5dce55feb464c0f8eb1b08ef1

Verified

✓ Snapshot stored ✓ Change verified

How to Cite

ConductAtlas Policy Archive
Entity: Duolingo | Document: Duolingo Privacy Policy | Record: CA-P-002766
Captured: 2026-04-18 09:22:23 UTC | SHA-256: 18dc44f61316909c…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/duolingo/duolingo-privacy-policy/childrens-privacy-and-coppa-compliance/
Accessed: May 2, 2026

Classification

Severity

High

Children's Privacy and COPPA Compliance