Karl Wabst's Library tagged FTC →  View Popular, Search in Google

This post is one in a series on Privacy &amp; Security, and covers some of the intersections of these domains for those who are not practitioners with in-depth understanding of the associated disciplines.<br />Behavioral Targeting<br />The tracking of consumers as they surf the Web to deliver targeted a

Business FTC OMMA Privacy 'Self Regulation Targeted Marketing Advertising Trust

The FTC’s recent announcement that it will update its decade-old guidance on online advertising—known as Dot Com Disclosures has inspired animated industry discussion.

In its request for comments, the FTC highlighted that forums for online advertising that we take for granted today -- such as social media and mobile apps -- didn't exist when the Disclosures were released in 2000

FTC advertising review

Google said Friday it will hire a dozen new lobbying firms in a sign the search giant is taking the Federal Trade Commission’s upcoming antitrust investigation seriously.

FTC google lobbying antitrust

"The media loves "do not track." In recent days, there has been a flood of news articles reporting that the Federal Trade Commission does, too. Some of those articles have even implied that the commission has endorsed particular do-not-track mechanisms. To some extent, that may be the fault of the FTC's own press releases. But in any event, this implication is wrong. "

Privacy FTC do not track

"Signaling its concern about privacy and online advertising, the Federal Trade Commission said Monday that it brought an enforcement action against the online ad network Chitika for continuing to track Web users after they opted out.

The FTC alleged in its complaint that Chitika's opt-out cookies lasted for only 10 days. After that time, Chitika resumed collecting anonymous information about people's Web-surfing activity in order to serve them targeted ads. The FTC alleged that the short lifespan of Chitika's opt-out cookies amounted to a deceptive practice. "

Privacy Opt Out cookies deceptive trade practices FTC

"efforts should include 1) privacy by design; 2) simplicity for consumers; 3) increased transparency, giving consumers better notices; 4) giving consumers greater control. "

Privacy ftc Self-regulation

"Online privacy has lately become a policy darling, as two new pieces of proposed legislation make the rounds of Congress, with more to come, and the Obama administration has stepped into the fray with the Commerce Department's recent report on digital privacy and protection. "

Privacy ftc advertising

"Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz has been encouraging ISPs
and advertisers to provide a flexible, consumer-friendly regime for protecting
privacy online, and specifically allowing the broadband nation to better
control
how their information is tracked and used online.
He
is encouraged by their progress, but still says the industry needs to do more,
and fast. As the FTC vets hundreds of comments in preparation for a policy
report on what the government and industry can do to make sure they are on "the
right side of consumers," Leibowitz talked with Multichannel News Washington
bureau chief John Eggerton for
the Feb. 21
cover story, Privacy Please."

Privacy leibowitz FTC

"Although identity theft is usually
associated with financial transactions, it also happens in the context of
medical care. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), medical identity
theft occurs when someone uses another person’s name or insurance information to
get medical treatment, prescription drugs or surgery. It also happens when
dishonest people working in a medical setting use another person’s information
to submit false bills to insurance companies.

Medical identity theft is a concern for patients, health care providers, and
health plans. Health care providers and insurers are asking how they can
minimize the risk and help their patients if they’re victimized. Here are the
FTC’s answers to those questions."

medical identity theft FAQ FTC

"Online data aggregator and broker
Spokeo has come in for criticism by privacy advocates who argue that the company
makes available financial data about Web users without also providing the
protections of federal law governing credit bureaus -- like allowing people to
correct inaccuracies."

Privacy Spokeo FCRA FTC litigation

"The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has approved proposed
settlements of complaints against three credit report resellers after the agency
accused them of lax cybersecurity practices that led to compromised credit
reports.

The settlements, announced Thursday, require the credit
report resellers to put comprehensive cybersecurity programs in place and to
obtain independent audits of their cybersecurity programs every other year for
20 years. The settlements also require the businesses to give credit reports
only to customers with legitimate purposes, the FTC said
in a press
release
."

Credit Reports Privacy Security FTC

"Fair Information Practice Principles are a
"useful tool" when analyzing online privacy, but should not be codified in new
regulations or laws, a coalition of 13 ad, media and business organizations
argue in comments submitted Friday to the Department of Commerce.

Formally establishing a fair information
principles-based framework for online privacy "would reduce industry's ability
to respond to changes in consumer preferences and would hinder advancements in
technology," the Interactive Advertising Bureau, American Association of
Advertising Agencies, Association of National Advertisers, Newspaper Association
of America and other groups say."

Fair Information Privacy Principles Privacy Law Self-regulation FTC

"The Federal Trade Commission weighed in on
the issue of Internet privacy Wednesday, calling for development of a "do not
track" system that would enable people to avoid having their actions monitored
online—prompting immediate objections from the online-advertising industry.

"Self regulation of privacy has not worked adequately and is not working
adequately for American consumers," said FTC Commissioner Jon Leibowitz. "We
deserve far better."

The FTC endorsed a report by its staff that faulted the industry for not
doing enough to protect consumer privacy online. Mr. Leibowitz said the FTC
isn't calling for legislation yet but pointed to the report as a recommendation
for lawmakers.

"A legislative solution will surely be needed if industry doesn't step up to
the plate," Mr. Leibowitz said.

The FTC report comes amid other signs that regulators and lawmakers in
Washington are concerned about the privacy issues raised by online tracking. A
House subcommittee on consumer protection is holding a hearing on the matter
Thursday. The U.S. Commerce Department is also planning to release a report
containing online privacy recommendations soon.

At a separate panel on Wednesday, the Commerce Department official in charge
of the privacy report, Daniel J. Weitzner, said the current tools for blocking
online tracking are "blunt instruments."

"We're supportive of tools that give users more control," Mr. Weitzner
said.

The FTC report suggests that the most practical method of providing a
do-not-track system would be to include a setting in Web-browsing software that
would broadcast people's desire not to be tracked.

Such a method would require Web browser makers to install a do-not-track
feature and tracking companies to comply with do-not-track requests."

Behavioral Tracking ftc privacy

"The Federal Communications Commission said Wednesday it is investigating a
data breach by Google, whose Street View mapping cars scooped up e-mail
addresses and passwords from unencrypted residential Wi-Fi networks.

“Last month, Google disclosed that its
Street View cars collected passwords, e-mails and other personal information
wirelessly from unsuspecting people across the country,” said Michele Ellison,
the FCC's enforcement bureau chief. “In light of their public disclosure, we can
now confirm that the Enforcement Bureau is looking into whether these actions
violate the Communications Act."

She said the investigation was intended to ensure consumers affected "receive
a full and fair accounting.""

privacy google fcc investigation ftc

"A federal court entered a judgment of more than
$3.6 million against a payment processor and its subsidiary that allegedly
debited consumers’ bank accounts illegally on behalf of deceptive telemarketers,
the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Friday.

Your Money Access LLC and its subsidiary, YMA Company LLC, processed
unauthorized debits on behalf of deceptive telemarketers and Internet-based
schemes that were violating the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule and state
consumer protection laws, according to a 2007 complaint filed by the FTC and
seven states.

The companies played a critical role in these schemes by providing access to
the banking system and the means to extract money from consumers’ bank accounts.
The FTC alleged that in many instances the merchants either failed to deliver
the promised products or services or sent consumers relatively worthless
items.

A default judgment entered in October 2008 barred Your Money Access and YMA
Company from payment processing for any client whose business practices are
deceptive, unfair or abusive within the meaning of the FTC Act, the
Telemarketing Sales Rule and state consumer protection laws."

deceptive trade practices ftc

"It's safe to say that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg
is no privacy advocate.
If his public pronouncements about privacy didn't convince people of that,
then certainly the company's recent decisions to share users' names, photos,
friend lists, etc. with three partners -- Yelp, Pandora and Microsoft Docs --
should. Even Facebook employees perceive their boss as uninterested in privacy.
One went so far as to
tell
New York
Times reporter Nick Bilton that Zuckerberg "doesn't believe in" privacy.

But whether Zuckerberg respects users' privacy or not, he operates in a
country where the law -- at least to some extent -- protects consumers' data."

Facebook Privacy Zuckerberg FTC mediapost

This workshop provides a comprehensive approach to help businesses prevent identity theft. Businesses must implement data security practices that deter identity thieves from obtaining personal information to open or access accounts. Businesses also must pay attention to telltale signs - or red flags - suggesting that thieves may be trying to use personal information that they have already acquired.

More: http://htc-01.media.globix.net/COMP008760MOD1/ftc_web/FTCindex.html#Apr29_09

Red Flag Rules Privacy FTC Presentation Workshop

"A privacy watchdog's criticisms of Facebook appear to have captured the attention of the Federal Trade Commission.

In a letter dated Jan. 14, David Vladeck, head of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, told the Electronic Privacy Information Center that its complaint about recent privacy changes at Facebook "raises issues of particular interest for us at this time."

Vladeck added that he has asked an official to arrange a followup meeting with EPIC, but also said he can't currently confirm or deny whether the FTC has opened an investigation. FTC investigations are not public until the agency either issues a complaint or closes the matter.

The FTC's consumer protection chief also said in his letter to EPIC that the commission plans to focus on privacy issues raised by social networks at the next roundtable, scheduled to be held in Berkeley, Calif. on Jan. 28. "

Privacy FaceBook FTC EPIC

"When Jon Leibowitz was nominated in 2004 to sit on the Federal Trade Commission, critics feared that the former Hollywood lobbyist would be soft on the media and high-tech industries he used to promote. They presumed he would overlook emerging privacy concerns surrounding Google and Internet social networking sites in favor of the advertising industry.

But in the nine months since President Obama picked Leibowitz as the FTC's chairman, the agency has churned out a steady stream of actions aimed at the high-tech sector. "

Privacy leibowitz FTC washingtonpost

"It was a busy year for the digital ad space in terms of regulatory scrutiny, both in the U.S. and in Europe. As increasing amounts of user data are leveraged for behavioral ad targeting and audience segmentation, regulators on both sides of the Atlantic have turned their attention to the legality and necessity of tracking users' online behavior.

The practice of data collection for online ad purposes is far from new, and behavioral targeting firms and publishers have been selling those insights to advertisers for years. In 2008, proposed network-level deep-packet inspection technology drew the attention of regulators, as privacy advocates and consumers expressed concerns about their ISPs monitoring their every online move in order to target them with ads.

Although that technology, provided by firms such as Phorm and NebuAd, was eventually abandoned by ISPs after overwhelming criticism from privacy advocates and concerned consumers, regulators have taken the opportunity to continue their probe into the online ad business more widely.

Following a series of hearings, roundtables and data privacy events in the U.S. this year, Congress is now widely expected to pass legislation on the matter. That bill will likely grant the FTC power to regulate the space more closely, specifically in relation to user privacy and the data collection practices that are now commonplace on the Web"

Privacy Behavioral Advertising Congress FTC