Socially Aware

April 09, 2013 - FTC, Litigation
Federal Court in Manhattan “Likes” Service of Process via Facebook
On March 7, 2013, a federal court in Manhattan ruled, in Federal Trade Commission v. PCCare247 Inc. , that service via Facebook is an acceptable alternative means of serving court documents on foreign defendants. Although this is a watershed ruling in many respects, in
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March 15, 2013 - FTC
FTC Updates Its “Dot Com Disclosures” With a Focus on Social Media Advertising
By: Julie O'Neill
On March 12, 2013, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued an important update to its “Dot Com Disclosures” guide to advertisers on making effective online disclosures. In doing so, the FTC has driven home the points that: The consumer protection laws apply to all advertisers,
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February 07, 2013 - FTC, Privacy, Litigation
FTC Announces Important Settlement With Social Networking App and Releases New Mobile App Report
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a potentially groundbreaking settlement with the social networking app Path and released an important new staff report on Mobile Privacy Disclosures late last week. The FTC’s Settlement with Path suggests a new standard may be on the near-term
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January 10, 2013 - FTC, Privacy
FTC Issues Substantially Revised COPPA Rule, Effective July 1, 2013: Review of Changes and Compliance Tips
By: Julie O'Neill
On December 19, 2012, the Federal Trade Commission (“Commission”) announced long-awaited amendments to its rule implementing the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“Rule”). The changes—which take effect on July 1, 2013—are significant. They alter the scope and obligations of the Rule in a number
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December 18, 2012 - FTC, Privacy
FTC Snuffs Out Online “History Sniffing”
By: Julie O'Neill
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has cracked down on a company that was engaged in “history sniffing,” a means of online tracking that digs up information embedded in web browsers to reveal the websites that users have visited. In a proposed settlement with Epic
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November 11, 2012 - FTC, Privacy
California A.G. Makes Good on Promise to Pursue Apps That Don’t Comply With the State’s Privacy Policy Law
By: Julie O'Neill
On October 30, 2012, California Attorney General Kamala Harris announced that her office would begin notifying the developers of as many as 100 mobile apps that their apps do not comply with the state’s Online Privacy Protection Act (OPPA) and that they have 30
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September 10, 2012 - FTC, Privacy
FTC Issues Guidance for Mobile App Privacy and Advertising; Signals More Enforcement Coming
On September 5, 2012, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) published a brief guide to assist developers of mobile applications, both large and small, in complying with truth-in-advertising, privacy, and data security principles. In publishing this advice, the FTC makes clear that its Section 5
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August 10, 2012 - FTC, Litigation
The FTC’s Spokeo Settlement Highlights Social Media-Related Legal Risks
By: Julie O'Neill
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently reached an $800,000 settlement with the data broker Spokeo, Inc. (“Spokeo”). The FTC’s complaint alleged violations not normally seen together: First, that Spokeo distributed personal information for background checks by employers in ways that failed to comply with
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August 03, 2012 - FTC, Privacy
More Change Coming: The FTC Proposes Further Significant Changes to Its COPPA Rule
By: Julie O'Neill
The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (“COPPA”), which became effective in April 2000, has long served as the primary regulatory tool of the Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC”) to police online privacy issues concerning children under 13. The COPPA Rule (the “Rule”),
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July 19, 2012 - FTC, Litigation
Face Off: Consumer Sues Hockey Team Over Text Messages
By: Julie O'Neill
Earlier this year, Fred Weiss, a Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team fan, responded to an offer to receive text messages alerting him to team news and special offers. Although the terms pertaining to the call-to-action apparently promised Weiss that he would receive no more than
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Topic Archives: FTC

Federal Court in Manhattan “Likes” Service of Process via Facebook

FTC Updates Its “Dot Com Disclosures” With a Focus on Social Media Advertising

By: Julie O'Neill

FTC Announces Important Settlement With Social Networking App and Releases New Mobile App Report

FTC Issues Substantially Revised COPPA Rule, Effective July 1, 2013: Review of Changes and Compliance Tips

By: Julie O'Neill

FTC Snuffs Out Online “History Sniffing”

By: Julie O'Neill

California A.G. Makes Good on Promise to Pursue Apps That Don’t Comply With the State’s Privacy Policy Law

By: Julie O'Neill

FTC Issues Guidance for Mobile App Privacy and Advertising; Signals More Enforcement Coming

The FTC’s Spokeo Settlement Highlights Social Media-Related Legal Risks

By: Julie O'Neill

More Change Coming: The FTC Proposes Further Significant Changes to Its COPPA Rule

By: Julie O'Neill

Face Off: Consumer Sues Hockey Team Over Text Messages

By: Julie O'Neill