On November 13, 2015, Chief Administrative Law Judge D. Michael Chappell dismissed the FTC’s complaint against LabMD Inc. for failing to show that LabMD’s allegedly unreasonable data security practices caused, or were likely to cause, substantial consumer injury. … Continue Reading
On November 2, 2015, Hunton & Williams LLP’s Centre for Information Policy Leadership Senior Policy Advisor, Fred H. Cate, moderated an academic panel on The Data Dilemma: A Transatlantic Discussion on Privacy, Security, Innovation, Trade, and the Protection of Personal Data in the 21st Century.… Continue Reading
On October 26, 2015, the Federal Trade Commission issued a press release on the Global Privacy Enforcement Network Alert, a new multilateral information sharing system that would allow participating agencies to share information gathered during an investigation. … Continue Reading
Hunton & Williams welcomes Phyllis Marcus as counsel to the firm’s privacy and competition teams. Phyllis joins the firm from the Federal Trade Commission, where she most recently served as Chief of Staff of the Division of Advertising Practices.… Continue Reading
Today, the EU-U.S. Privacy Bridge Initiative, a group of transatlantic privacy experts that was convened in April of 2014, released its report on Privacy Bridges – EU and US Privacy Experts in Search of Transatlantic Privacy Solutions.… Continue Reading
On August 24, 2015, the Third Circuit issued its opinion in Federal Trade Commission v. Wyndham Worldwide Corporation, affirming the Federal Trade Commission's authority to regulate companies' data security practices under the unfairness prong of Section 5 of the FTC Act.… Continue Reading
On August 17, 2015, the Federal Trade Commission announced proposed settlements with thirteen companies over allegations that they misled consumers by falsely claiming to be Safe Harbor certified.… Continue Reading
On June 30, 2015, the Federal Trade Commission announced its new "Start With Security" initiative, which will provide businesses with information on data security and how to protect consumer information.… Continue Reading
The PCI Security Standards Council recently published a set of enhanced validation procedures designed to provide greater assurance that certain entities are maintaining compliance with the PCI Data Security Standard effectively and on a continuing basis. In addition, on July 1, 2015, PCI Data Security Standard Version 3.0 is being retired and the controls previously designated by Version 3.0 as best practices will become mandatory.… Continue Reading
On April 23, 2015, the Federal Trade Commission announced that Nomi Technologies has agreed to settle charges stemming from allegations that the company misled consumers with respect to their ability to opt out of the company's mobile device tracking service at retail locations. The settlement marks the FTC's first Section 5 enforcement action against a company that provides tracking services at retailers.… Continue Reading
On April 15, 2015, the Federal Communications Commission announced that it has joined the Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities, the principal forum for privacy authorities in the Asia-Pacific Region.… Continue Reading
On April 13, 2015, the Federal Trade Commission announced that it has settled charges with two debt brokers who posted consumers' unencrypted personal information on a public website.… Continue Reading
The Federal Trade Commission announced proposed settlements with two companies related to charges that they falsely claimed they were compliant with the U.S.-EU and U.S.-Swiss Safe Harbor Frameworks.… Continue Reading
On April 1, 2015, the Global Privacy Enforcement Network released a 2014 annual report highlighting the network's accomplishments throughout the year.… Continue Reading
The Federal Trade Commission announced the formation of the Office of Technology Research and Investigation, which the FTC describes as “an office designed to expand the FTC’s capacity to protect consumers in an age of rapid technological innovation.”… Continue Reading
On March 9, 2015, the Federal Trade Commission announced that it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Dutch Data Protection Authority to promote increased cooperation and information sharing between the two enforcement agencies.… Continue Reading
On March 3, 2015, the Third Circuit heard oral arguments in FTC v. Wyndham Worldwide Corp. on whether the FTC has the authority to regulate private companies’ data security under Section 5 of the FTC Act.… Continue Reading
On February 27, 2015, the White House released a highly-anticipated draft of the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights Act of 2015 that seeks to establish baseline protections for individual privacy in the commercial context and to facilitate the implementation of these protections through enforceable codes of conduct.… Continue Reading
On February 5, 2015, the FTC sent a letter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describing the agency's efforts in the debt collection arena during the previous year, and highlighting that the security of consumer data in the buying and selling of debts was one of the FTC's main focuses.… Continue Reading
On January 27, 2015, the Federal Trade Commission announced the release of a report on the Internet of Things that describes the current state of the Internet of Things, analyzes the benefits and risks of its development, applies privacy principles to the Internet of Things and discusses whether legislation is needed to address this burgeoning area.… Continue Reading
On January 6, 2015, FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez gave the opening remarks at the 2015 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. She addressed the key challenges the Internet of Things poses to consumer privacy and how companies can find appropriate solutions that build consumer trust. … Continue Reading
On December 22, 2014, the FTC announced that it notified China-based BabyBus that several of the company’s mobile apps appear to be in violation of the COPPA Rule. The accusations stem from the company's alleged failure to obtain verifiable parental consent prior to its apps collecting and disclosing the precise geolocation information of users under the age of 13 in the U.S.… Continue Reading
On December 19, 2014, the Federal Trade Commission announced a settlement of at least 90 million USD with mobile phone carrier T-Mobile USA, Inc. stemming from allegations related to mobile cramming.… Continue Reading
