On March 1, 2022, President Biden, in his first State of the Union address, called on Congress to strengthen privacy protections for children, including by banning online platforms from excessive data collection and targeted advertising for children and young people.
Continue Reading President Biden Calls for Stronger Privacy Protections for Children in State of the Union

On February 14, 2022, Noom Inc., a popular weight loss and fitness app, agreed to pay $56 million, and provide an additional $6 million in subscription credits to settle a putative class action in New York federal court.
Continue Reading Fitness App Agrees to Pay $56 Million to Settle Class Action Alleging Dark Pattern Practices

On February 2, 2022, the Litigation Chamber of the Belgian Data Protection Authority imposed a 250,000 Euro fine against the Interactive Advertising Bureau Europe for several alleged infringements of the GDPR, following an investigation into IAB Europe’s Transparency and Consent Framework.
Continue Reading Belgian DPA Finds IAB Europe Transparency and Consent Framework in Violation of the GDPR

The Austrian data protection authority recently published a decision finding that the use of Google Analytics cookies violates both Chapter V of the GDPR, which establishes the rules on international data transfers, and the Schrems II judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Continue Reading Austrian DPA Finds Data Transfers Resulting from Analytics Cookie Use to Be in Violation of GDPR Data Transfer Requirements

Earlier this month, the Federal Trade Commission reached a $1.5 million settlement with loan application company ITMedia Solutions LLC over alleged violations of the FTC Act and Fair Credit Reporting Act. The FTC alleged that ITMedia deceptively acquired and indiscriminately shared consumers’ sensitive personal information under the guise of connecting them with lenders.
Continue Reading FTC Settles with Loan Application Company Over Alleged Misuse of Sensitive Personal Information

On December 27, 2021, the Federal Trade Commission sought public comment on a petition filed by Accountable Tech calling on the FTC to use its rulemaking authority to prohibit “surveillance advertising” as an “unfair method of competition.”
Continue Reading FTC Seeks Comments on Accountable Tech’s Petition for Rulemaking to Prohibit Surveillance Advertising

On December 15, 2021, the Federal Trade Commission announced a $2 million settlement with OpenX Technologies in connection with alleged violations of the COPPA Rule and the FTC Act. The FTC alleged that OpenX knowingly collected personal information from children under 13 without parental consent and collected geolocation data from users who opted out of being tracked.
Continue Reading FTC Announces $2 Million Settlement with Ad Exchange Over Alleged COPPA Violations

On November 18, 2021, the European Data Protection Board released a statement on the Digital Services Package and Data Strategy. The Digital Services Package and Data Strategy is composed of several legislative proposals that aim to facilitate the further use and sharing of personal data between more public and private parties; support the use of specific technologies, such as Big Data and artificial intelligence; and regulate online platforms and gatekeepers.
Continue Reading EDPB Releases Statement on the Digital Services Package and Data Strategy; Calls for Ban on Targeted Ads