On April 23, 2022, the European Commission announced that the European Parliament and EU Member States had reached consensus on the Digital Services Act, which establishes accountability standards for online platforms regarding illegal and harmful content.
Continue Reading European Union Reaches Political Agreement on Digital Services Act
Social Media
President Biden Calls for Stronger Privacy Protections for Children in State of the Union
Posted on
On March 1, 2022, President Biden, in his first State of the Union address, called on Congress to strengthen privacy protections for children, including by banning online platforms from excessive data collection and targeted advertising for children and young people. …
Continue Reading President Biden Calls for Stronger Privacy Protections for Children in State of the Union
Attorneys General Launch Investigation into TikTok’s Effects on Children
Posted on
Posted in Children’s Privacy, Enforcement
On March 2, 2022, eight states announced a bipartisan, nationwide investigation into whether TikTok operates in a way that causes or exacerbates harm to the physical and mental health of children, teens and young adults. …
Continue Reading Attorneys General Launch Investigation into TikTok’s Effects on Children
Texas Attorney General Investigates TikTok for Potential Child Privacy Violations and Facilitation of Human Trafficking
Posted on
On February 18, 2022, the Texas Attorney General’s Office announced it was investigating TikTok for alleged child privacy violations and facilitation of human trafficking on its platform.
Continue Reading Texas Attorney General Investigates TikTok for Potential Child Privacy Violations and Facilitation of Human Trafficking
Texas AG Sues Meta Over Collection and Use of Biometric Data
Posted on
On February 14, 2022, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton brought suit against Meta over the company’s collection and use of biometric data. The suit alleges that Meta collected and used Texans’ facial geometry data in violation of the Texas Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act and the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. …
Continue Reading Texas AG Sues Meta Over Collection and Use of Biometric Data
FTC Seeks Comments on Accountable Tech’s Petition for Rulemaking to Prohibit Surveillance Advertising
Posted on
On December 27, 2021, the Federal Trade Commission sought public comment on a petition filed by Accountable Tech calling on the FTC to use its rulemaking authority to prohibit “surveillance advertising” as an “unfair method of competition.”…
Continue Reading FTC Seeks Comments on Accountable Tech’s Petition for Rulemaking to Prohibit Surveillance Advertising
EU Parliament Gives Green Light to Digital Markets Act
Posted on
The European Parliament adopted its position on the proposal for a Digital Markets Act, ahead of negotiations with the Council of the European Union. This blog entry examines the key amendments to the DMA by Members of the European Parliament.
Continue Reading EU Parliament Gives Green Light to Digital Markets Act
White House Issues Executive Order on Protecting Americans’ Sensitive Data from Foreign Adversaries
Posted on
Posted in Information Security
On June 9, 2021, President Biden signed an Executive Order on Protecting Americans’ Sensitive Data from Foreign Adversaries, which elaborates on measures to address the national emergency regarding the information technology supply chain declared in 2019 by the Trump administration in Executive Order 13873.
Continue Reading White House Issues Executive Order on Protecting Americans’ Sensitive Data from Foreign Adversaries
FTC Issues Orders to Nine Social Media and Video Streaming Service Companies Regarding Privacy Practices
Posted on
On December 14, 2020, the Federal Trade Commission announced that it had issued orders to nine social media and video streaming companies, requesting information on how the companies collect, use and present personal information, their advertising and user engagement practices and how their practices affect children and teens.
Continue Reading FTC Issues Orders to Nine Social Media and Video Streaming Service Companies Regarding Privacy Practices
Irish DPA Issues Fine of 450,000 Euros Against Twitter for Data Breach Following EDPB Decision under the GDPR Consistency Mechanism
Posted on
On December 15, 2020, the Irish Data Protection Commission announced its fine of 450,000 Euros against Twitter International Company, following its investigation into a breach resulting from a bug in Twitter’s design. The fine is the largest issued by the Irish DPC under the GDPR to date and is also its first against a U.S.-based organization. …
Continue Reading Irish DPA Issues Fine of 450,000 Euros Against Twitter for Data Breach Following EDPB Decision under the GDPR Consistency Mechanism