FTC
FTC Announces Consumer Protection Hearings
By Richard B. Newman |
This week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced plans to hold public hearings this fall and winter on whether adjustments to consumer protection enforcement law and related policy are warranted in light of the economic landscape and new technologies. “The FTC has always been committed to self-examination and critical thinking, to ensure that our enforcement…
FTC Announces Operation Main Street Enforcement Initiative
By Richard B. Newman |
On June 18, 2018, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), along with a number of state Attorneys General, the New York Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, two U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Better Business Bureau, announced the results of Operation Main Street, an enforcement initiative aimed at operations that seek to defraud small businesses. The…
FTC Sweep Against Internet Business Coaching Model Continues
By Richard B. Newman |
The Federal Trade Commission has announced that it has charged three individuals and nine businesses with generating more than $100M from thousands of consumers with an alleged fraudulent business education program called “My Online Business Education.” A federal court halted the scheme and froze the defendants’ assets at the FTC’s request. According to the Commission,…
Privacy and Data Security – FTC Loses Appeal Over Data Security Order
By Richard B. Newman |
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been increasingly more aggressive in terms of privacy and data security investigations and enforcement for more than a decade. In 2013, the FTC sued LabMD alleging that lax data security practices had resulted in the exposure of sensitive information about thousands of consumers. LabMD denied wrongdoing and argued that…
Vermont’s New Data Broker Law
By Richard B. Newman |
On May 22, 2018, the State of Vermont enacted the country’s first data broker law. As set forth by the new law, a data broker is defined as “a business, or unit or units of a business, separately or together, that knowingly collects and sells or licenses to third parties the brokered personal information of…
FTC Grants Petition to Modify Online Tracking Order
By Richard B. Newman |
In August 2009, a final order was entered in a matter initiated by the Federal Trade Commission against Sears Holdings Management Corporation. According to the FTC, from 2007 through 2008 Sears utilized a downloadable software application that collected sensitive information from users without disclosing its data collection practices. In part, the order obligated Sears to…