WASHINGTON, Dec 10 (Reuters) - U.S. regulators are investigating a number of companies in the mobile app marketplace for potentially violating rules protecting children's privacy or requiring accurate disclosures about data collection, the Federal Trade Commission said on Monday.

The FTC did a survey of hundreds of mobile apps designed for children and found that most failed to provide information to parents about what data were collected.

Many also shared information like the device ID, location and phone number without telling parents, the FTC said.

The FTC enforces the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, which requires companies to take steps to disclose privacy policies to parents when distributing apps targeted at children.

(Reporting By Diane Bartz; Editing by Gerald E. McCormick) Keywords: FTC PRIVACY/CHILDREN

(Diane.Bartz@thomsonreuters.com)(1 202 898 8313)

COPYRIGHT

Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. All rights reserved.

The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.