Program Services
ESRB Privacy Certified, first established in 2000, is an experienced, comprehensive privacy certification and compliance program.
For an annual membership fee, we help companies in the video game and toy industries, and service providers to the interactive entertainment industry, adopt and implement lawful, responsible, and transparent privacy practices for their online services and products (i.e., websites, mobile apps, IoT products, downloadable games for Windows, macOS or console, games that are streamed remotely, including via the cloud, and other games-as-a-service (GaaS). Whether a member is evaluating third-party service providers, integrating new adtech, or adding game features, we provide testing and analysis of possible privacy pitfalls.
ESRB Privacy Certified offers two membership levels – Standard and Premium –calibrated to members’ varying certification volume, product portfolio, and compliance needs. The base fee is calculated based on corporate revenue. Both membership levels include all services required for certification under the Kids Seal and the General Seal.
Standard Membership Services
Standard membership allows organizations to submit up to 20 base products per year, and includes the following product certification and compliance services:
- Use of applicable ESRB Privacy Certified seal(s) when certified
- Initial product assessments for websites, mobile apps, internet-connected products, and gaming console privacy settings
- Other digital products, such as PC games, may incur nominal supplemental fee
- Review of privacy policies and other privacy disclosures
- Biannual reports
- Ongoing product audits and reviews of material changes
- Review new products or features upon request
- Network traffic scans and third-party service provider lists
- Vetting of third-party service providers in child-directed products
- Basic compliance management portal
- Product development checklists and privacy-related guides
- Provide direction on global best practices, foreign laws, and tailored youth privacy and safety laws like the UK Children’s Code
- Member alerts and updates on regulatory and technological developments
- Members-only webinar access
- Privacy 101 and COPPA training
- Assistance in managing escalated consumer complaints and inquiries
- Access to partnerships with identify verification providers such as Veratad VX, AI-powered compliance tool Checks, and other certification bodies like the UK Age Check Certification Scheme
Premium Membership Services
Premium membership is for members who generally submit between 20 and 40 base products per year, seek certification for more complex offerings (such as an entire game platform or service provider platform), or who wish to take advantage of additional services. It includes all services available for Standard membership, plus:
- Customized compliance management portal
- Deep dives into teen (ages 13-17) privacy issues
- Review of specialized emerging technologies, products such as those based in AI and immersive extended reality
- Regularly scheduled meetings and consultations (e.g., monthly or bi-monthly)
- Feedback on social media presence
- In-depth vetting of third-party service providers in general audience (i.e., non-child directed) products
- In-depth, substantive on-site visits
- Custom or advanced privacy training