Washington Post: App Developers Wary of Child Privacy Law

Washington Post: App Developers Wary of Child Privacy Law

Dan Russell-Pinson has designed some of the top educational children’s apps for the iPhone and iPad.

Monster Physics is a game that lets kids build virtual contraptions, operated by a customizable furry monster, to complete missions — clearing debris using an electromagnet, for example — while teaching them common physics terms. One of his other apps, a geography-focused game called Stack the States, was voted the “Best Kids App for iPad” according to the independent online “Best App Ever Awards”.

Just don’t ask Russell-Pinson which parts of his games his customers — who are four years old and up — like best. The Charlotte, N.C. entrepreneur doesn’t know.

Russell-Pinson has chosen not to collect the analytics — data about how his users interact with the app — because he does not want to accidentally violate the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.