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.
Continue Reading Texas State Representative Introduces Comprehensive State Privacy Bill Draft
COPPA
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.
Continue Reading FTC Issues Business Alert on Illegal Use and Sharing of Location, Health and other Sensitive Data
FTC Announces Virtual Open Meeting to Discuss COPPA and Education Technology
On May 19, 2022, the Federal Trade Commission will hold a virtual open meeting. The meeting’s tentative agenda includes a vote by the FTC on a policy statement prioritizing the enforcement of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act as it applies to the use of education technology. …
Continue Reading FTC Announces Virtual Open Meeting to Discuss COPPA and Education Technology
U.S. State Legislative and Industry Self-Regulatory Efforts to Fill Gaps in Children’s Online Privacy
On April 19, 2022, the California state legislature and an industry self-regulatory group each separately took steps to enhance online privacy protections for children who are not covered by COPPA. …
Continue Reading U.S. State Legislative and Industry Self-Regulatory Efforts to Fill Gaps in Children’s Online Privacy