---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 6503"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "6503"
heading: "Safe harbors"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/6503"
units:
  - "Chapter 91 — Children’s Online Privacy Protection"
---

# §6503. Safe harbors

- (a) **Guidelines—** An [operator](/usc/15/6501.md?p=2) may satisfy the requirements of regulations issued under [section 6502(b) of this title](/usc/15/6502.md?p=b) by following a set of self-regulatory guidelines, issued by representatives of the marketing or online industries, or by other [persons](/usc/15/6501.md?p=11), approved under [subsection (b)](#b).
- (b) **Incentives—**
  - (1) **Self-regulatory incentives—** In prescribing regulations under [section 6502 of this title](/usc/15/6502.md), the [Commission](/usc/15/6501.md?p=3) shall provide incentives for self-regulation by [operators](/usc/15/6501.md?p=2) to implement the protections afforded children under the regulatory requirements described in [subsection (b)](/usc/15/6502.md?p=b) of that section.
  - (2) **Deemed compliance—** Such incentives shall include provisions for ensuring that a [person](/usc/15/6501.md?p=11) will be deemed to be in compliance with the requirements of the regulations under [section 6502 of this title](/usc/15/6502.md) if that [person](/usc/15/6501.md?p=11) complies with guidelines that, after notice and comment, are approved by the [Commission](/usc/15/6501.md?p=3) upon making a determination that the guidelines meet the requirements of the regulations issued under [section 6502 of this title](/usc/15/6502.md).
  - (3) **Expedited response to requests—** The [Commission](/usc/15/6501.md?p=3) shall act upon requests for safe harbor treatment within 180 days of the filing of the request, and shall set forth in writing its conclusions with regard to such requests.
- (c) **Appeals—** Final action by the [Commission](/usc/15/6501.md?p=3) on a request for approval of guidelines, or the failure to act within 180 days on a request for approval of guidelines, submitted under [subsection (b)](#b) may be appealed to a district court of the United States of appropriate jurisdiction as provided for in [section 706 of title 5](/usc/5/706.md).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 105–277, div. C, title XIII, § 1304, Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–732.)