{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-markey-and-blumenthal-query-facebook-on-privacy-security-for-new-childrens-app-messenger-kids", "Senators Markey and Blumenthal Query Facebook on Privacy, Security for New Children’s App “Messenger Kids”", "2017-12-07", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "MA", "Edward Markey", "M000133", "www.markey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senators Markey and Blumenthal Query Facebook on Privacy, Security for New Children\u2019s App \u201cMessenger Kids\u201d \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, December 7, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tApp designed specifically for kids 12 and under\r\n\u00a0\r\nWashington (December 7, 2017) \u2013 Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), members of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, today sent a letter to Facebook about the company\u2019s recent release of \u201cMessenger Kids\u201d, an app designed specifically for children 12 and under. Facebook Messenger, both limited in scope and ability, allows parents to set up profiles with their kids, and connect them with friends or relatives through text and video chat. Given the sensitive nature of children\u2019s personal information, the Senators are concerned that Messenger Kids must take responsible steps to protect their privacy and comply with the Children\u2019s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).\u00a0 COPPA protects children\u2019s privacy by providing parents with tools to control the information collected online about their children ages 12 and under. Senator Markey is the House author of COPPA.\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u201cWe remain concerned about where sensitive information collected through this app could end up and for what purpose it could be used,\u201d write the Senators to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg in their letter. \u201cFacebook must take heightened care in ensuring the company creates a safe and controlled environment for its young users, complete with parental consent.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\nA copy of the letter can be found HERE. \u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\nIn the letter to Facebook, Senators Markey and Blumenthal ask questions that include:\r\n \r\nWill Facebook commit to keeping all of its applications and services for children 12 and under advertisement free?\r\nWhat information is shared with Facebook\u2019s family of companies or its vendors and service providers?\r\nWhat cybersecurity is built into Messenger Kids?\r\nWill any of the information collected from Messenger Kids be used once a child turns 13 and signs up for her own Facebook account?\r\nIn what ways did Facebook work with child development experts to design the app?\r\n \r\n\u00a0\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-markey-and-blumenthal-query-facebook-on-privacy-security-for-new-childrens-app-messenger-kids"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.47982407361269, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}