On February 22, 2017, the Federal Trade Commission announced that it had reached settlement agreements with three U.S. companies charged with deceiving consumers about their participation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Cross-Border Privacy Rules system.… Continue Reading
On February 6, 2017, the FTC announced that it has agreed to settle charges that VIZIO, Inc., installed software on about 11 million consumer televisions to collect viewing data without consumers’ knowledge or consent. The stipulated federal court order requires VIZIO to pay 2.2 million dollars to the FTC and New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs. … Continue Reading
On January 23, 2017, the FTC released a Staff Report on cross-device tracking technology that can link multiple Internet-connected devices to the same person and track that person’s activity across those devices. The Report follows a November 2015 workshop on the same subject and is based on information and comments gathered during that workshop.… Continue Reading
On December 20, 2016, the FTC announced that it has agreed to settle charges that Turn Inc., a company that enables commercial brands and ad agencies to target digital advertising to consumers, tracked consumers online even after consumers took steps to opt out of tracking. … Continue Reading
On December 14, 2016, the FTC announced that the operators of the AshleyMadison.com website have settled with the FTC and a coalition of state regulators over charges that the companies deceived consumers and failed to protect users’ personal information.… Continue Reading
On December 1, 2016, the nonpartisan Commission on Enhancing Cybersecurity issued its Report on Securing and Growing the Digital Economy, which includes recommended actions that the government and private sector can take over the next 10 years to improve cybersecurity. … Continue Reading
On November 30, 2016, the FTC released a staff summary of a recent public workshop called Putting Disclosures to the Test. The workshop examined ways of testing and evaluating company disclosures regarding advertising claims and privacy practices. … Continue Reading
On November 1, 2016, the FTC announced that a group of entities known as the Consumer Education Group settled FTC charges that, between late 2013 and 2015, it made millions of telemarketing calls, including pre-recorded robocalls, to consumers on the national Do Not Call Registry, in violation of the Telemarketing Sales Rule.… Continue Reading
On October 27, 2016, the Federal Communications Commission announced the adoption of rules that require broadband Internet Service Providers to take steps to protect consumer privacy. … Continue Reading
On October 25, 2016, the Federal Trade Commission released a guide for businesses on how to handle and respond to data breaches. The 16-page guide details steps businesses should take once they become aware of a potential breach. The guide also underscores the need for cyber-specific insurance to help offset potentially significant response costs.… Continue Reading
On October 27, 2016, the Federal Communications Commission will vote on whether to finalize proposed rules concerning new privacy restrictions for Internet Service Providers.… Continue Reading
On August 29, 2016, the Federal Trade Commission announced that it is seeking public comment regarding the Gramm Leach Bliley Act Safeguards Rule.… Continue Reading
On July 29, 2016, the Federal Trade Commission announced that it had issued an opinion and final order reversing the administrative law judge’s decision by finding that LabMD failed to maintain reasonable security practices to protect consumers’ sensitive personal information in violation of Section 5 of the FTC Act.… Continue Reading
On July 14, 2016, the Federal Trade Commission issued warning letters to 28 companies relating to apparent false claims of participation in the APEC Cross-Border Privacy Rules. … Continue Reading
On July 12, 2016, the EU Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality Vera Jourova and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker announced the formal adoption of the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield framework, which is composed of an Adequacy Decision and accompanying Annexes. … Continue Reading
On June 29, 2016, the Federal Trade Commission announced that, to account for inflation, it is increasing the civil penalty maximums for certain violations of the FTC Act effective August 1, 2016. … Continue Reading
On June 22, 2016, the Federal Trade Commission announced that it reached a settlement with a mobile advertising company, InMobi, to resolve charges that the company deceptively tracked hundreds of millions of consumers’ locations without their knowledge or consent. Among other requirements, the settlement orders the company to pay 950,000 dollars in civil penalties. … Continue Reading
In a recent video segment from Mimesis Law’s Cy-Pher Executive Roundtable, Lisa Sotto and other privacy professionals discussed the Federal Trade Commission’s jurisdiction in bringing enforcement actions against law firms in a breach event.… Continue Reading
On June 8, 2016, the Federal Trade Commission announced that Practice Fusion, an electronic health records company, agreed to settle FTC charges that the company misled consumers about the privacy of doctor reviews submitted to the company. … Continue Reading
The Federal Trade Commission announced that it will host a workshop on September 15, 2016, "Putting Disclosures to the Test," on the efficacy and costs of consumer disclosures advertising and privacy policies. … Continue Reading
On May 9, 2016, the Federal Trade Commission announced it had issued Orders to File a Special Report to eight mobile device manufacturers requiring them to, for purposes of the FTC's ongoing study of the mobile ecosystem, provide the FTC with "information about how [the companies] issue security updates to address vulnerabilities in smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices."… Continue Reading
On May 4, 2016, the Federal Trade Commission issued a press release announcing its recent settlement with hand-held vaporizers manufacturer Very Incognito Technologies, stemming from charges that the company falsely claimed it had certified under the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Cross-Border Privacy Rules framework.… Continue Reading
The Federal Trade Commission recently released an interactive tool for mobile health apps. The tool was developed in conjunction with several other federal agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, and the Food and Drug Administration.… Continue Reading
On April 6, 2016, the Federal Trade Commission endorsed the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s updated guidelines on consumer protection in e-commerce. This blog entry provides highlights on the OECD’s new recommendations. … Continue Reading
