FTC Regulation
FTC Announces Settlement with Twitter Over Deceptive Use of Account Security Data
The Federal and Trade Commission (“FTC”) announced today a settlement with Twitter, Inc. (“Twitter”) in which Twitter agreed to pay $150 million for its alleged misuse of user account security data, specifically email addresses and phone numbers, for advertising purposes. The government alleged that the misuse of account data was in violation of a 2011…
Read MoreFacebook Agrees to Record $5 Billion Settlement with FTC on Privacy Practices
Multiple media outlets are reporting today that the Federal Trade Commission has agreed to settle its case against Facebook on its privacy practices for $5 Billion. The Wall Street Journal reports that the vote by FTC commissioners was 3-2 in favor of accepting the agreement and split along party lines with the Republican majority favoring…
Read MoreFTC Puts Software Companies and Service Providers on Notice of Broad Enforcement Powers Under Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act Safeguards Rule
The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) has put software companies and software service providers on notice it intends to interpret the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act’s Safeguards Rule broadly to apply to businesses which make available software or services that serve financial, payroll, and accounting purposes and collect sensitive data on consumers and their employees. The FTC recently announced…
Read MoreRecent FTC Enforcement Actions Should Serve as Warning to Software Industry about Privacy Practices
If your software company is like most, you have probably spent little or no time contemplating what needs to be in your company’s privacy policy. In fact, what your company is currently calling its privacy policy was likely copied from a third party website years ago and never given much thought since. Meanwhile, your company…
Read MoreFTC Proposing New Rules to Protect Children’s Online Privacy
The FTC has just announced proposed changes to its existing rules protecting children’s online privacy and is currently accepting public comment to the proposed rules through September 10, 2012. The proposed changes would amend the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule (“COPPA”). In particular, the FTC is seeking to make modifications to the following language: Revise…
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