Tag Archives: mobile privacy

Massachusetts AG Settlement Bars Geofencing Near Medical Facilities

Photo of Melinda L. McLellanPhoto of Stephanie LucasBy Melinda L. McLellan and Stephanie Lucas on Posted in Behavioral Advertising, Geolocation, Marketing, Medical Privacy, Mobile Privacy, State Legislation
On April 4, 2017, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office announced that it had settled with a digital advertiser following allegations the company was using geolocation technology to target ads to women visiting reproductive health facilities. Although the company denied that it geofenced clinics in Massachusetts, the AG indicated that such targeting would violate the Massachusetts … Continue Reading

Unexpected Consumer Data Collection Concerns FTC

By Alan L. Friel and Benjamin Barnes on Posted in Behavioral Advertising, Big Data, Geolocation, Marketing, Mobile Privacy, Retail Industry
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been turning its attention to consumer data collection and use that consumers may not expect, such as tracking of TV viewing by smart TVs, and use of cross-device technologies and techniques to try to associate users and households to multiple devices (e.g., TVs, mobile phones, tablets, computers, and other … Continue Reading

FTC Settles with Ad Tech Company Over Deceptive Online Tracking Practices

Photo of Melinda L. McLellanPhoto of Robyn M. FeldsteinBy Melinda L. McLellan and Robyn M. Feldstein on Posted in Behavioral Advertising, Enforcement, Marketing, Mobile Privacy, Online Privacy
On December 20, 2016, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that Turn Inc. agreed to settle charges that it misled consumers about its online tracking activities and failed to honor consumer opt-outs as described in its privacy policy. Background Turn is a digital advertising company that facilitates targeted marketing by commercial brands and ad agencies … Continue Reading

As FCC Flexes New Consumer Protection and Privacy Regulatory Enforcement Muscles Against ISPs, Some Call for Expanded Authority Over Online Services

By F. Paul Pittman on Posted in Big Data, Information Security, Mobile Privacy
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has imposed a record $100M forfeiture fine against a global telecommunications company for alleged deceptive data plan promotions. The FCC’s fine comes on the heels of revisions to its 2010 Open Internet rules that expanded its enforcement authority over “telecommunications service” providers to cover broadband Internet service providers (ISPs). Under … Continue Reading

2014 Mobile Privacy and Security Trends and What to Look for in 2015

Photo of Fernando A. Bohorquez, Jr.By Fernando A. Bohorquez, Jr. and Jenna N. Felz on Posted in Mobile Privacy
Most analysts and commentators agree that 2014 was the year mobile reached a tipping point.  With over 1 billion mobile smartphones in circulation, 2014 marked the first year that mobile Internet usage surpassed desktop use in the U.S. This trend will continue as users spend more time on mobile apps than on the Web. Mobile … Continue Reading

iBeacons Usher in New Era of Mobile Advertising in 2014, Raise Old Privacy Concerns

Photo of Fernando A. Bohorquez, Jr.By Fernando A. Bohorquez, Jr. and Alan M. Pate on Posted in Behavioral Advertising, Marketing, Mobile Privacy, Online Privacy
Editor’s Note: This blog post was originally published on February 6, 2014 courtesy of iMedia Connection’s Blog. It is repurposed with permission. Remember that scene from Minority Report? The one where John Anderton (Tom Cruise) takes a trip to GAP, virtual billboards call out his name and bombard him with offers as he walks through … Continue Reading

New COPPA Requirements for Mobile Apps and Websites Now in Effect

Photo of BakerHostetlerBy BakerHostetler on Posted in Children’s Privacy
Authored by: Benjamin Pergament On June 3, 2013, BakerHostetler’s IP Intelligence: Insight on Intellectual Property blog wrote about the new COPPA requirements coming into effect starting July 1, including a variety of requirements intended to keep up with advances in technology and how children interact with mobile apps and websites. These have now come into … Continue Reading

Legal concepts every social media marketer should know: Part II — Rules of the road for online advertising

Photo of Fernando A. Bohorquez, Jr.By Fernando A. Bohorquez, Jr. on Posted in Children’s Privacy, Marketing, Online Privacy
Editor’s Note: This blog post was originally published on August 26, 2013, courtesy of iMedia Connection’s Blog. It is repurposed with permission. This post is co-authored by Alan M. Pate. As long as we have sold stuff, we’ve used images or stories to help sell them. As Calvin Coolidge of all people once said in … Continue Reading

Legal concepts every social media marketer should know: Part I — Consumer privacy

Photo of Fernando A. Bohorquez, Jr.By Fernando A. Bohorquez, Jr. on Posted in Children’s Privacy, Marketing, Mobile Privacy, Online Privacy, Social Media
Editor’s Note: This blog post was originally published on August 12, 2013, courtesy of iMedia Connection’s Blog. It is repurposed with permission. This post is co-authored by Alan M. Pate. There are three things a social media website operator or digital marketer probably hates to hear most before  launching an online ad campaign: 1. Can you make … Continue Reading

FTC Announces New COPPA Enforcement Action & Mobile Privacy Staff Report

Photo of BakerHostetlerBy BakerHostetler on Posted in Children’s Privacy, Mobile Privacy
At a press conference this morning, outgoing FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz announced an $800,000 settlement of its recent enforcement action against Path, the operator of a social networking app. The Path mobile app allowed users, including children, to create and share journals across their social network. The FTC had alleged violations of the Children’s Online … Continue Reading

Lame Duck Congress Acts on Privacy Bills, Mostly With an Eye Toward 2013

By William Weber on Posted in Identity Theft, Mobile Privacy, Online Privacy
While continuing congressional inaction on the fiscal cliff is getting most of the ink/pixels in news headlines over the last couple weeks, several privacy bills have advanced in the House and Senate. Though only one is likely to become law before the 112th Congress ends in a few days, they embody what will be the … Continue Reading

California Attorney General Settlement on App Privacy Practices

By briankarp on Posted in Mobile Privacy, Online Privacy
The Attorney General of California (“AG”) released a Joint Statement of Principles (“Joint Statement“) among itself and Amazon.com Inc., Apple Inc., Google Inc., Hewlett-Packard Company, Research In Motion Limited and other companies (collectively the “Mobile App Market Companies”) describing the terms of a settlement relating to the AG’s review of mobile application marketplace privacy protections. The … Continue Reading

Online Privacy and Data Security Legislation Update — 2011 Year in Review

Photo of Craig A. HoffmanBy Craig A. Hoffman on Posted in Children’s Privacy, Cybersecurity, Federal Legislation, Online Privacy
The end of 2010 featured the Department of Commerce citing the need for a Privacy Bill of Rights in its green paper and the FTC's preliminary online privacy report discussing the need for a Do Not Track mechanism. The momentum generated by these reports led to the introduction of multiple versions of Do Not Track and comprehensive privacy rights bills in early 2011. By mid-2011, at least five different data security and breach notification proposals were circulating in the wake of high profile data breaches. Reports about location based tracking led to the introduction of geolocation privacy and surveillance bills. Proposed amendments to the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, Electronic Communications Privacy Act, and Video Privacy Protection Act were also made. And by the end of 2011, several cybersecurity bills designed to protect critical infrastructure had been introduced. Even though Congress held hearings on privacy issues, subcommittees approved several bills, and there was support from the Obama administration for comprehensive privacy legislation, as many expected, however, none of these bills were enacted when the first session of the 112th Congress adjourned December 18. The safe prediction for 2012 is more of the same--a lot of proposals but no consensus. It is certainly possible that another high profile data breach or cyberattack against a utility or government contractor could create enough urgency to force a consensus. However, numerous high profile breaches (Epsilon, Sony, Citi, RSA, Lockheed Martin and several health care providers), hactivist attacks against government security contractors (IRC Federal and HBGary), and reports about how the "weaponized" Stuxnet virus caused centrifuges in an Iranian nuclear facility to spin wildly out of control were not enough in 2011. We certainly expect to see data breach notification, comprehensive privacy, and cybersecurity bills addressed again in 2012. We may also see narrower bills aimed at online and location based tracking as well as Children's privacy. Emerging technology, including mobile payments and facial recognition, may also garner legislative attention. Below is a round-up of the 2011 privacy and data security legislative proposals, including links to more detailed analysis from our blog posts during the year.… Continue Reading

Mobile App and Geolocation Data Roundup

Photo of Craig A. HoffmanBy Craig A. Hoffman on Posted in Behavioral Advertising, Children’s Privacy, Mobile Privacy
A recent national survey of smartphone users, not surprisingly, revealed that privacy, transparency, choice, and control are important considerations for users.  Indeed, many users indicated that they want more choices and easier access to controls regarding advertising tracking and geolocation data.  Legislators and consumer advocacy groups are taking heed. On May 10, 2011, the Senate … Continue Reading
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