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A San Francisco-based mobile app maker has agreed to remove children's photographs and location information from its website and more clearly disclose what data it collects from users, the state Attorney General's Office said today.

(Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg)

TRENTON — A California mobile app maker has removed all photographs of children and location information from its website, and agreed to more clearly disclose information it collects, New Jersey authorities said today.

The state Attorney General's Office alleged Dokogeo, the maker of the animation-based Dokobots app, violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act and the state Consumer Fraud Act by collecting e-mail addresses, photographs and location data.

Authorities said the app's privacy policy did not obtain verifiable parental consent prior to the collection of personal information from children, and the company does not offer a link to its privacy policy on its homepage, making it hard for users to find.

The company denied it had violated any state or federal laws.

The app is a geolocation scavenger hunt that encourages young users to visit new locations and gather "photos and notes from the people they meet," authorities said. Although the maker denies it, the state alleged it was targeted at children.

“This is an important settlement because it restrains Dokogeo from collecting personal information about children while requiring transparency from the company about how it handles whatever consumer information it does collect,” said Christopher Porrino, the director of the state Division of Law.

If the company fails to meet the terms of the agreement or the requirements of state or federal law, it must pay a $25,000 fine. A representative of the company could not immediately be reached for comment.

The settlement was the second reached between the state and an app developer accused of violating the children's privacy act. In July 2012, authorities announced a similar settlement against 24x7digital, a leading developer of children's apps.

RELATED COVERAGE

• Kids mobile apps subject to federal lawsuit

• Developer of kids' mobile apps agrees to stop collecting, transmitting personal information without parental consent

• More N.J. Attorney General News

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