Tag Archives: Federal Trade Commission

Hunton Hosts Webinar on Current Trends in Global Privacy Enforcement

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Hunton & Williams LLP

On January 12, 2012, Hunton & Williams hosted an hour-long webinar on the current enforcement environment in the U.S. and EU. The webinar, Current Trends in Global Privacy Enforcement, covered issues ranging from the Federal Trade Commission’s tougher approach to investigations to increased monitoring of corporate privacy practices by European data protection authorities. Hunton & Williams speakers included Lisa J. Sotto, partner and head of the Global Privacy and Data Security practice, London partner Bridget Treacy, London senior attorney Rosemary Jay and Brussels associate Dr. Jörg Hladjk.

Listen to the webinar now.

Tags: Bridget Treacy, Data Protection Authority, Federal Trade Commission, Germany, Jörg Hladjk, Lisa Sotto, Rosemary Jay, State Attorneys General, United Kingdom

EU and U.S. Formulating a Privacy Framework Agreement

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Hunton & Williams LLP

As reported in BNA’s Privacy Law Watch, EU Member States are working on an overarching privacy framework agreement with the United States. The framework agreement, which may be used as a starting point for future negotiations, aims to reduce the amount of time and resources required to prepare new agreements between the European Union and the United States.

Tags: Article 29 Working Party, David Vladeck, EU Member States, Federal Trade Commission, Jon Leibowitz, OECD, Viviane Reding

Third Circuit Holds Data Breach Plaintiffs Lack Standing

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Hunton & Williams LLP

On December 12, 2011, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed a decision that employees of Ceridian Corporation’s (“Ceridian’s”) customers did not have standing to sue Ceridian after the payroll processing firm suffered a data breach.

In December 2009, a hacker may have gained access to personal and financial information of Ceridian’s customers, including names, addresses, Social Security numbers, dates of birth and bank account information. Although it is not known if the hacker read, copied or understood the data, Ceridian sent notification letters to affected individuals informing them of the breach and offering to provide one year of complimentary credit monitoring and identity theft protection.

Tags: Consent Order, Consumer Protection, Credit Monitoring, Cybersecurity, Federal Trade Commission, Hacker, Litigation, Social Security Number

FTC Settles with Alleged Stealth Behavioral Advertising Targeter

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Hunton & Williams LLP

On January 5, 2012, the Federal Trade Commission announced a proposed settlement with Upromise, Inc., a membership reward service that gives cash rebates for college savings accounts to members who purchase products and services from its partner merchants. The FTC alleged that the “Personalized Offers” feature on the Upromise TurboSaver Toolbar (1) collected far more information about users’ browsing behavior than was disclosed at the time of installation, and (2) contrary to representations in the company’s privacy notice, transmitted that information, which included data such as Social Security numbers and financial account numbers, in clear text.

Tags: Advertisement, Consent Order, Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission, Personally Identifiable Information, Social Security Number

FTC Seeks Public Comments on Facial Recognition Technology

Posted on January 1, 2012 by Hunton & Williams LLP

On December 23, 2011, the Federal Trade Commission announced that it is seeking public comments on the privacy and security implications raised by the use of facial recognition technology. The FTC recently held a public workshop entitled “Face Facts: A Forum on Facial Recognition Technology,” that discussed the current and future commercial applications of facial recognition technologies and the associated privacy and security concerns.

Tags: Consumer Protection, Facial Recognition Technology, Federal Trade Commission

Facebook Settles FTC Charges

Posted on November 29, 2011 by Hunton & Williams LLP

On November 29, 2011, the Federal Trade Commission announced that Facebook has settled charges that it deceived consumers by making false privacy promises. The settlement requires Facebook to (1) not misrepresent how it maintains the privacy or security of users’ personal information (2) obtain users’ “affirmative express consent” before sharing their information with any third party that “materially exceeds the restrictions imposed by a user’s privacy setting(s),” (3) implement procedures to prevent a third party from accessing users’ information no later than 30 days after the user has deleted such information or terminated his or her account, (4) establish, implement and maintain a comprehensive privacy program, and (5) obtain initial and biennial assessments and reports regarding its privacy practices for the next 20 years.

Tags: Consent Order, Consumer Protection, Electronic Privacy Information Center, Facebook, Federal Trade Commission, Jay Rockefeller, Jon Leibowitz, Social Media

Rockefeller to Hold Hearing on “Alarming” Online Tracking Practices

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Hunton & Williams LLP

On November 17, 2011, Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, issued a statement emphasizing the need for increased consumer protection on the Internet. Rockefeller cited “disturbing” reports about Facebook’s ability to track non-members and members who have logged out of the site, stating that companies should not be tracking users without their consent.

Tags: Consumer Protection, Cookies, Do Not Track, Facebook, Federal Trade Commission, Jay Rockefeller

FTC Settles COPPA Violation Charges Against Children’s Social Networking Website

Posted on November 9, 2011 by Hunton & Williams LLP

On November 8, 2011, the Federal Trade Commission announced that the operator of skidekids.com, a social networking website that advertises itself as the “Facebook and Myspace for Kids,” has agreed to settle charges that he collected personal information from approximately 5,600 children without parental consent, in violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”) Rule. The proposed settlement will bar future violations of COPPA and misrepresentations about the collection, use and disclosure of children’s information.

Tags: Consent Order, Consumer Protection, COPPA, Federal Trade Commission, Penalty, Privacy Policy, Safe Harbor, Social Media

Live from Mexico City: Opening Session Highlights the Potential and Challenges of Big Data

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Hunton & Williams LLP

On November 2, 2011, following welcome comments by Federal Institute for Access to Information and Data Protection (“IFAI”) Commissioner Jacqueline Peschard, the 33rd International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners opened in Mexico City with an examination of the phenomenon of “big data” as a definer of a new economic era. In a wide-ranging presentation, Kenneth Neil Cukier of the Economist drew into clear relief the possibilities and problems associated with combining vast stores of data and powerful analytics. He highlighted the growing ability to correlate seemingly unrelated data sets to predict behavior, reveal trends, enhance product performance and safety and derive meaning. In his remarks Cukier noted that, in an era of big data, much of the decision-making about data collection and use goes beyond traditional notions of privacy, touching on ethics and free will. Noting that the printing press led to the development of free speech laws, he left open the question of how big data may change the legal landscape.

Tags: Accountability, Colombia, Data Protection Authority, David Vladeck, Federal Trade Commission, Germany, Jacqueline Peschard, Mexico, New Zealand, Privacy By Design, Richard Thomas

Mexico Hosts 33rd International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Hunton & Williams LLP

On November 2-3, 2011, Mexico’s Federal Institute for Access to Information and Data Protection (“IFAI”) will host the 33rd International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners in Mexico City. Marty Abrams, President of the Centre for Information Policy Leadership at Hunton & Williams LLP, is the chairman of the Conference’s advisory panel and principal advisor to Conference organizers on program content. Hunton & Williams is a proud sponsor of the event which will feature Hunton representatives as speakers or moderators on multiple panels and plenary sessions, including the following:

Tags: Article 29 Working Party, Australia, China, Christopher Graham, Christopher Kuner, Colombia, David Vladeck, Department of the Treasury, Federal Trade Commission, Finland, France, Germany, Google, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Lisa Sotto, Marty Abrams, Mexico, New Zealand, Paula Bruening, Poland, Richard Thomas, Spain, Switzerland, Uruguay

Privacy and Information Security Law Blog - Global privacy and information security law updates and analysis

Tag Archives: Federal Trade Commission

Hunton Hosts Webinar on Current Trends in Global Privacy Enforcement

EU and U.S. Formulating a Privacy Framework Agreement

FTC Seeks Public Comments on Facial Recognition Technology

Rockefeller to Hold Hearing on “Alarming” Online Tracking Practices

Live from Mexico City: Opening Session Highlights the Potential and Challenges of Big Data

Mexico Hosts 33rd International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners

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