On May 27, 2014, the Federal Trade Commission announced the release of a new report recommending that Congress consider enacting legislation that would increase transparency in the data broker industry and give consumers more control over how data brokers collect and share their personal information.
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Jay Rockefeller
Senate Commerce Committee Broadens Data Broker Investigation
On September 25, 2013, Senator Jay Rockefeller expanded his investigation of the data broker industry by sending letters to twelve popular health and personal finance websites requesting information about their data collection and sharing practices. Responses are due by October 11, 2013.
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Election Results: Key Developments for Federal Privacy and Data Security Legislation
The 2012 election results likely will have consequences for U.S. federal privacy and data security legislation. This blog entry outlines some key developments in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate and describes how these developments might affect legislative priorities and prospects for the 113th Congress beginning in 2013.
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Recent Federal Government Activity on Cybersecurity
The absence of congressional action on cybersecurity legislation has spurred efforts by various entities to exert influence over cybersecurity policy. This blog post contains a client alert that focuses on a number of those efforts, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s creation of a new cybersecurity office and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s action on cybersecurity Critical Infrastructure Protection standards.
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Senators Introduce Cybersecurity Act of 2012
On February 14, 2012, a joint U.S. congressional committee introduced the Cybersecurity Act of 2012. The Act would empower DHS to create a regulatory framework for securing the nation’s infrastructure assets against cyber threats. It also would provide incentives and remove legal barriers to increased information sharing involving the federal government, the intelligence community and private industry.
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Facebook Settles FTC Charges
On November 29, 2011, the Federal Trade Commission announced that Facebook has settled charges that it deceived consumers by making false privacy promises.
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Rockefeller to Hold Hearing on “Alarming” Online Tracking Practices
On November 17, 2011, Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) issued a statement emphasizing the need for increased consumer protection on the Internet and indicating that he intends to hold a hearing to question Facebook and other companies about their online tracking practices.
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Key Highlights from Rockefeller’s Hearing on Privacy and Data Security
On June 29, 2011, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation convened a hearing entitled “Privacy and Data Security: Protecting Consumers in the Online World.”
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Senator Rockefeller Introduces the Do-Not-Track Online Act of 2011
On May 9, 2011, Senator Jay Rockefeller introduced a bill that would instruct the FTC to promulgate regulations for a “Do Not Track” mechanism and prohibit online service providers from tracking individuals who express a desire to not be tracked online.
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Security Expert Blasts TSA’s New Screening Procedures
In response to the Transportation Security Administration’s new screening procedures, Professor Fred Cate has published an open letter to Senators Rockefeller and Hutchison critiquing the ineffective and violative nature of random pat-downs.
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