On September 21, 2022, the Federal Communications Commission announced a proposed combined fine of $3.4 million against Sinclair Broadcast Group, Nexstar Media Group and 19 other broadcast television licensees for violations of rules limiting commercial matter in children’s television programming.
Continue Reading FCC Proposes $3.4 Million in Fines for Violations of Children’s TV Programming Rules

On August 23, 2022, the Federal Trade Commission announced it is seeking additional public comment on “how children are affected by digital advertising and marketing messages that may blur the line between ads and entertainment” in conjunction with its “Protecting Kids from Stealth Advertising in Digital Media” event on October 19, 2022.
Continue Reading FTC Extends Public Comment Period on Advertising to Kids in Digital Media

On July 6, 2022, the Better Business Bureau National Programs’ Children’s Advertising Review Unit (“CARU”) announced that it had found Outright Games in violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”) and CARU’s Self-Regulatory Guidelines for Advertising and Guidelines for Children’s Online Privacy Protection. Outright Games owns and operates the Bratz Total Fashion Makeover app, which CARU determined to be a “mixed audience” child-directed app subject to COPPA and CARU’s Guidelines due to the app’s subject matter, bright colors, visual content, lively audio and gameplay features.

Continue Reading Children’s Advertising Review Unit Finds Outright Games in Violation of COPPA and CARU’s Advertising and Privacy Guidelines

On June 21, 2022, the Colorado Attorney General’s Office announced it is seeking informal input from the public on its rulemaking related to the Colorado Privacy Act (“CPA”). Before starting its formal rulemaking process, the Office has indicated it wants to better “understand the community’s thoughts and concerns about data privacy.”

Continue Reading Colorado AG Seeks Public Input on CPA Rulemaking

On June 3, 2022, the Federal Trade Commission announced it is seeking public comment on its 2013 guidance, “.com Disclosures: How to Make Effective Disclosures in Digital Advertising.” The public can provide comments on possible updates to the guidance through August 2, 2022.
Continue Reading FTC Seeks Public Comment on Modernizing Its Digital Deception Guidance

On June 3, 2022, House Energy and Commerce Chair Rep. Frank Pallone, Ranking Member Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Ranking Member Sen. Roger Wicker released a new comprehensive federal privacy bill, the American Data Privacy and Protection Act.
Continue Reading House and Senate Release a Bipartisan U.S. Federal Privacy Bill

On May 25, 2022, Twitter reached a proposed $150 million settlement with the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to resolve allegations that the company deceptively used nonpublic user contact information obtained for account security purposes to serve targeted ads to users.
Continue Reading Twitter to Pay $150 Million to Settle Allegations of Data Misuse