Child (Legal Definition)

An individual below the age at which they can legally provide consent to data processing without parental involvement. The age threshold varies by jurisdiction: under GDPR, children are generally individuals under age 16, though member states can lower this to 13; under COPPA in the United States, a child is anyone under 13; under CCPA, special protections apply to minors under 16. The legal definition of 'child' determines when parental consent is required for data collection and processing. Organizations directed at children or with actual knowledge they're collecting children's data must implement age-appropriate protections, obtain verifiable parental consent where required, limit data collection to what's necessary, and provide heightened security. Age verification becomes crucial at these thresholds. The varying definitions create compliance complexity for global services—you must apply the most protective standard when operating across jurisdictions.