Data Privacy and Protection

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In response to the mounting data privacy concerns attributed to the proliferation of smart devices, the FTC will be holding a public workshop on November 21, 2013, addressing questions over the “Internet of Things.” Two public interest groups, Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) and Center for Digital Democracy (CDD), have already submitted comments expressing their concerns over the privacy implications related to this topic, which include the tracking of daily behaviors and personal habits.
Continue Reading Privacy Concerns to be Addressed at FTC Workshop in November

In 2012, streaming entertainment accounted for almost half of peak Internet traffic.  In 2013, the online viewing phenomenon continues to generate massive amounts of actionable information about named consumers, from interests to habits to schedule to mood.  Until now, the Video Privacy Protection Act – launched in the heyday of VHS – has blocked companies…

FTC Chairman Leibowitz has followed though on his commitment to finalize the new COPPA rule by the end of the year. Earlier today, at a press conference, the Chairman, alongside Senator Jay Rockefeller, announced the agency’s update to the rule. The new rule expands the application of the rule to new categories of “personal information”…

Apparently, a lot of people want to know, according to the Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz and Jeff Chester, Executive Director of the Center for Digital Democracy. To learn more why, read our Global Regulatory Enforcement Law Blog covering the latest complaint filed against a mobile game-maker for alleged COPPA violations.
Continue Reading Do you know where your children are?

One is hard-pressed to think of something more important than protecting the privacy of our children. Front and center in this debate is how such privacy concerns need to be addressed in mobile platforms like smartphones. As the saying goes, “There’s an app for that”, and such is certainly true in offerings directed to children. The Federal Trade Commission has now issued its second staff report on the privacy practices of mobile apps for children, “Mobile Apps for Kids: Disclosures Still Not Making the Grade.”…
Continue Reading Children’s Privacy in Mobile Apps Continues to be atop FTC’s List of Concerns

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce held its latest meeting with privacy stakeholders November 30, to discuss privacy best practices for the mobile environment. We have previously blogged about some of these earlier meetings on our sister blog from our Global Regulatory Enforcement Group.

This latest meeting once again joined members of the app developer industry with members of consumer advocate and privacy groups, along with other stakeholders from government, academia, and the private sector. Discussion focused on the latest draft of the Mobile Application Transparency Code of Conduct. Some of the issues considered in this latest draft are……
Continue Reading Privacy Stakeholders Meet Again Over Mobile Privacy Best Practices

David Vladeck, FTC Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection, made comments Tuesday, citing the U.S. District Court’s approval of a $22.5 million civil fine against Google for violating a consent order as “a clear victory for consumers and privacy,” and demonstrating that the Commission “will continue to ensure that its orders are obeyed, and that consumers’ privacy is protected.” The consent order settled charges that Google misrepresented privacy assurances to users of Apple’s Safari Internet browser in violation of a previous FTC settlement Order.
Continue Reading Federal Trade Commission Director Claims Victory with Largest Civil Fine in FTC’s History for Consent Order Violation

Earlier this year, we analyzed some privacy considerations with a class action lawsuit against Facebook accusing the social media giant of violating the rights of users through its “Sponsored Stories” advertising program. Per the Complaint, Facebook would not only display such ads, but would also use the “names, photographs, likenesses, and identities” of Facebook users to help promote the product to friends of those users. The Complaint alleged that a user would be associated with a product by choosing to click a “Like” button, and would then be automatically associated with the corresponding ad campaign, without compensation and allegedly without the user’s consent.
Continue Reading Facebook Tries to Settle ‘Sponsored Stories’ Class Action . . . Again

The Federal Trade Commission issued an advisory opinion letter this week saying that it has no present intention to challenge the Council of Better Business Bureaus’ accountability self regulatory program for companies engaged in online behavioral advertising. The program is designed to foster compliance with the Self-Regulatory Principles for Online Behavioral Advertising, which were released…