Tag Archives: Federal Trade Commission

FTC Announces Internal Process Reforms in Connection with Civil Investigative Demands

Photo of May Tal GongolevskyPhoto of Csilla Boga-LofaroBy May Tal Gongolevsky and Csilla Boga-Lofaro on Posted in Enforcement
Has your company or client been served with a Civil Investigative Demand (CID)? Overwhelmed? Don’t despair – the future may be brighter, as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is now offering more clarity regarding its CID document requests process. On July 17, 2017 FTC Acting Chairman Maureen K. Ohlhausen issued a new internal process reform … Continue Reading

FCC Broadband Privacy Rule Dead and Buried

By Alan L. Friel, Moustafa Badreldin and Benjamin Barnes on Posted in Behavioral Advertising, Cybersecurity, Federal Legislation
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Privacy and Data Security Rule for broadband internet access service (BIAS) providers (the Privacy Rule) is dead. As we discussed here, the new rule that was set to start phased implementation was recently put on hold. We detailed what the Privacy Rule would have required in prior blog posts available … Continue Reading

Balancing Innovation With Privacy Concerns: The FTC Provides Comment on the Internet of Things

By Kathryn Mellinger on Posted in Big Data, Online Privacy
On June 3, 2016, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) responded to a Request for Comments issued by the Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) regarding the Internet of Things (IoT). The NTIA, which issued its Request for Comments on April 5, 2016, stated that it will use commentary to expand on its … Continue Reading

FTC Releases Complaint Alleging LabMD Failed to Protect Consumer Privacy

Photo of Erica Gann KitaevBy Erica Gann Kitaev on Posted in Enforcement
Authorship credit:  Tina U. Amin FTC Complaint Alleges Disclosure of Medical and Other Sensitive Information over Peer-to-Peer Network and Alleges Identity Thieves may have Obtained Sensitive Information In August 2013, the Federal Trade Commission filed a petition in federal court to investigate Atlanta based medical testing laboratory LabMD, Inc. on suspicion that the company failed … Continue Reading

FTC’s Olhausen: Privacy Through a Competition Lens

By William Weber on Posted in Online Privacy
Earlier this week, Maureen Olhausen, the Federal Trade Commission’s newest commissioner, shared her perspective on “The Federal Role in Privacy: Getting It Right” in a discussion at the Hudson Institute, a conservative-leaning think tank in Washington, DC. Her straightforward comments indicated she intends to take a cautious and holistic approach toward any expansion of the … Continue Reading

FTC Issues Final Report with Guidance on Companies’ Online Privacy Practices

Photo of Craig A. HoffmanBy Craig A. Hoffman on Posted in Children’s Privacy, Enforcement, Federal Legislation, Online Privacy
Fifteen months after releasing its preliminary report, the Federal Trade Commission released its final Report, “Protecting Consumer Privacy in an Era of Rapid Change: A Proposed Framework for Business and Policymakers.”  The much anticipated final report went further than the preliminary report by now calling for Congress to enact general privacy, data security and breach … Continue Reading

Facebook and FTC Settlement Agreement – Online Privacy Practice Implications

Photo of Craig A. HoffmanBy Craig A. Hoffman on Posted in Enforcement, Online Privacy
Facebook and the FTC announced an agreement on November 29, 2011, ending the FTC’s 18-month investigation into Facebook’s user privacy practices.  By adding Facebook to the list of major social media entities subject to an FTC consent order—a list that includes Google and Twitter—the FTC has loudly signaled its leading role in regulating the online … Continue Reading

FTC Enforcement of the Red Flags Rule Likely to Begin January 1

Photo of Craig A. HoffmanBy Craig A. Hoffman on Posted in Enforcement, Federal Legislation
Since 2008, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) has announced multiple times that it would delay enforcement of the Red Flags Rule.  The last Enforcement Policy  announced a delay through December 31, 2010, so that Congress could consider legislation regarding the scope of entities covered by the Rule.  The Rule applies to “financial institutions” and “creditors” … Continue Reading
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