On May 22, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission announced a proposed order against education technology provider Edmodo, LLC for violations of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule and Section 5 of the FTC Act.
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COPPA
FTC Asserts COPPA Does Not Preempt State Laws
On May 22, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission filed an amicus brief in support of a ruling by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit that COPPA does not preempt state laws claims that are consistent with COPPA. …
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Texas State Representative Introduces Comprehensive State Privacy Bill Draft
On February 6, 2023, Texas State Representative Giovanni Capriglione submitted H.B. 1844, a comprehensive privacy bill modeled after the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act. …
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FTC Announces $520 Million in Settlements with Epic Games
On December 19, 2022, the Federal Trade Commission announced two settlements, amounting to $520 million, with Epic Games, Inc. in connection with alleged violations of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act Rule and alleged use of “dark patterns” relating to in-game purchases. …
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FTC Releases Updated Mobile Health App Compliance Tool
On December 7, 2022, the Federal Trade Commission released an updated Mobile Health App Interactive Tool to help developers determine what federal laws and regulations apply to apps that collect and process health data.
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House Energy and Commerce Leaders Demand Information from Various Toy Manufacturers
On October 26, 2022, House Energy and Commerce Committee and Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee leaders sent letters to several toy manufacturers, including Bandai Namco, Hasbro, Mattel, MGA Entertainment, LEGO Group and the Toy Association, asking how they plan to protect children and their information from BigTech companies like TikTok and YouTube.
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CARU Finds SpongeBob App in Violation of COPPA and CARU’s Guidelines
On September 7, 2022, the Children’s Advertising Review Unit of BBB National Programs announced its finding that Tilting Point Media, LLC, owner and operator of the SpongeBob: Krusty Cook-Off app, violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act and CARU’s Self-Regulatory Guidelines for Advertising and for Children’s Online Privacy Protection. …
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FTC Issues Report to Congress on COPPA Staffing, Enforcement and Remedies
On August 25, 2022, the FTC issued its Federal Trade Commission Report to Congress on COPPA Staffing, Enforcement and Remedies. …
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Children’s Advertising Review Unit Finds Outright Games in Violation of COPPA and CARU’s Advertising and Privacy Guidelines
On July 6, 2022, the Better Business Bureau National Programs’ Children’s Advertising Review Unit (“CARU”) announced that it had found Outright Games in violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”) and CARU’s Self-Regulatory Guidelines for Advertising and Guidelines for Children’s Online Privacy Protection. Outright Games owns and operates the Bratz Total Fashion Makeover app, which CARU determined to be a “mixed audience” child-directed app subject to COPPA and CARU’s Guidelines due to the app’s subject matter, bright colors, visual content, lively audio and gameplay features.…
FTC Issues Business Alert on Illegal Use and Sharing of Location, Health and other Sensitive Data
On July 11, 2022, the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection issued a business alert on businesses’ handling of sensitive data, with a particular focus on location and health data.
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