Socially Aware

November 05, 2020 - FTC, FCC, Copyright, Section 230 Safe Harbor
Social Links: Avoid becoming a social-media-scam victim; does stream-ripping site violate copyright law?
By: Julie O'Neill
Reports of social media scams that have caused users to lose money had tripled by the end of 2020’s second quarter, resulting in the loss of $117 million during the first two quarters of this year alone. Romance scams and supposed economic relief offers
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June 10, 2020 - FTC, COPPA
It’s 10 p.m. Do You Know What Your Third-Party Integrations Are Doing?
By: Julie O'Neill
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, children are spending more of their lives in the digital realm, both for education and entertainment purposes—but that doesn’t mean the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is cutting online operators slack for not complying with the Children’s Online
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November 20, 2019 - FTC, Influencer Marketing
Influencing the Influencers: FTC Staff Release “Disclosures 101” Guidance for Online Endorsers
By: Julie O'Neill
The Federal Trade Commission is trying yet another approach to convey the message that the relationship between a social media “influencer” and the brand he or she is endorsing must be disclosed. This new guidance from FTC staff takes the form of a brochure
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October 07, 2019 - First Amendment, Artificial Intelligence, FTC, Influencer Marketing, Fraud, Free Speech
A dating platform’s alleged fraud; a decline in the popularity of popularity metrics; TikTok’s unique AI
By: Aaron P. Rubin
Singapore has enacted a law granting government ministers the power to require social media platforms to completely remove or place warnings alongside posts the authorities designate as false. Unlike the compensation earned by child stars who perform on television, in films, or on other
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September 11, 2019 - FTC, Data Security, Privacy, COPPA, Compliance
The Company Who Cried “General Audience”: Google and YouTube to Pay $170 Million for Alleged COPPA Violations
By: Julie O'Neill
Last week, the Federal Trade Commission made clear that child-directed parts of an otherwise general audience service will subject the operator of the service to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Just six months after the FTC’s record-setting settlement against TikTok , the
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March 08, 2019 - FTC, Data Security, Privacy, COPPA
Thank You, Next Enforcement: Music Video App Violates COPPA, Will Pay $5.7 Million
By: Julie O'Neill
The cost for violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) has been steadily rising, and companies subject to the law should take heed. Last week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a record-setting $5.7 million settlement with the mobile app company Musical.ly for
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June 20, 2018 - FTC, COPPA
Don’t Forget to Hit “Delete”: FTC Blog Post Clarifies COPPA Information Deletion Requirement
By: Julie O'Neill
Most companies are familiar with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and its requirement to obtain parental consent before collecting personal information online from children under 13. Yet COPPA also includes an information deletion requirement of which companies may be unaware. On May
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March 06, 2018 - Endorsement Guides, FTC, Influencer Marketing
The FTC’s Quest for Better Influencer Disclosures
By: Julie O'Neill
In the last few years, as advertising has followed consumers from legacy media such as television to online video and social media platforms, the Federal Trade Commission has been attempting to ensure that participants in this new advertising ecosystem understand the importance of complying
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September 22, 2017 - Advertising, Artificial Intelligence, European Union, FTC, Influencer Marketing, Privacy, UK, Employment Law, Online Endorsements
Social Links: Social media influencers earn big bucks for endorsements, while the FTC settles a suit against influencers; European court sides with employee axed over emails reviewed by employer
By: Aaron P. Rubin
In 2016, brands spent $570 million on social influencer endorsements on Instagram alone. This recode article takes a looks at how much influencers with certain followings can command, and whether they’re worth the investment. And don’t overlook the legal issues associated with the use
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September 05, 2017 - FTC, Data Security, Cybersecurity, Compliance
More Insight From the FTC on Data Security—or More of the Same?
By: Julie O'Neill
Recent challenges to the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) authority to police data security practices have criticized the agency’s failure to provide adequate guidance to companies. In other words, the criticism goes, businesses do not know what they need to do to avoid a charge
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Topic Archives: FTC

Social Links: Avoid becoming a social-media-scam victim; does stream-ripping site violate copyright law?

By: Julie O'Neill

It’s 10 p.m. Do You Know What Your Third-Party Integrations Are Doing?

By: Julie O'Neill

Influencing the Influencers: FTC Staff Release “Disclosures 101” Guidance for Online Endorsers

By: Julie O'Neill

A dating platform’s alleged fraud; a decline in the popularity of popularity metrics; TikTok’s unique AI

By: Aaron P. Rubin

The Company Who Cried “General Audience”: Google and YouTube to Pay $170 Million for Alleged COPPA Violations

By: Julie O'Neill

Thank You, Next Enforcement: Music Video App Violates COPPA, Will Pay $5.7 Million

By: Julie O'Neill

Don’t Forget to Hit “Delete”: FTC Blog Post Clarifies COPPA Information Deletion Requirement

By: Julie O'Neill

The FTC’s Quest for Better Influencer Disclosures

By: Julie O'Neill

Social Links: Social media influencers earn big bucks for endorsements, while the FTC settles a suit against influencers; European court sides with employee axed over emails reviewed by employer

By: Aaron P. Rubin

More Insight From the FTC on Data Security—or More of the Same?

By: Julie O'Neill