Social Media

Subscribe to Social Media

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

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

On November 27, 2020, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit in the lawsuit it brought against Google on February 20, 2020, regarding alleged violations of the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act in connection with G-Suite for Education. …
Continue Reading New Mexico AG Files Notice of Appeal in Suit Against Google Regarding Alleged Violations of COPPA

On September 25, 2020, the District Court of New Mexico granted Google’s motion to dismiss a suit filed by New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas alleging, among other claims, that the company violated the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act by using G Suite for Education to “spy on New Mexico students’ online activities for its own commercial purposes, without notice to parents and without attempting to obtain parental consent.”…
Continue Reading New Mexico AG Suit Against Google Regarding Alleged Violations of COPPA Dismissed

On September 8, 2020, AB-1138, the Parent’s Accountability and Child Protection Act, was enrolled and presented to the California Governor for signature. If signed into law by the Governor, the bill would require a business that operates a social media website or application, beginning July 1, 2021, to obtain verifiable parental consent for California-based children the business “actually knows” is under 13 years of age.…
Continue Reading California Legislature Passes Bill Requiring Social Media Companies to Obtain Parental Consent for California-based Children Under 13

On August 6, 2020, President Trump signed executive orders imposing new economic sanctions under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the National Emergencies Act against TikTok and WeChat. The orders potentially affect tens of millions of U.S. users of these applications and billions of users worldwide.…
Continue Reading U.S. Government Takes Aim at TikTok and WeChat Citing Privacy and Security Concerns

On May 19, 2020, the Belgian Data Protection Authority announced that the Litigation Chamber had imposed a €50,000 fine on a social media provider for unlawful processing of personal data in connection with the “invite-a-friend” function offered on its platform.…
Continue Reading Belgian DPA Sanctions Social Media Company for Unlawful Processing of Personal Data in Connection with “Invite-a-Friend” Function