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.
Continue Reading FTC Announces $520 Million in Settlements with Epic Games

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.
Continue Reading House Energy and Commerce Leaders Demand Information from Various Toy Manufacturers

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.
Continue Reading CARU Finds SpongeBob App in Violation of COPPA and CARU’s 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.

Continue Reading Children’s Advertising Review Unit Finds Outright Games in Violation of COPPA and CARU’s Advertising and Privacy Guidelines

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.
Continue Reading FTC Issues Business Alert on Illegal Use and Sharing of Location, Health and other Sensitive Data