Tag: FTC

House Judiciary Committee Continues Its Antitrust Examination

The House Judiciary Committee’s Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law Subcommittee continued its series of hearings titled “Online Platforms and Market Power” with an examination of the agencies charged with enforcing federal antitrust laws: the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Subcommittee Chair David Cicilline (D-RI) said the U.S. is experiencing a … Continue reading House Judiciary Committee Continues Its Antitrust Examination →

A Privacy Bill A Week: Online Privacy Act of 2019

Last week, we dived into the last White House on privacy, the discussion draft of the “Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights Act of 2015“ released by the Obama Administration. This bill was released in conjunction with a report on privacy issues and then proceeded to go nowhere as there was scant appetite on Capitol Hill … Continue reading A Privacy Bill A Week: Online Privacy Act of 2019 →

ACCC Charges Google With Violations Of Consumer Laws Over Android Location Settings

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) announced a legal action against Google “alleging they engaged in misleading conduct and made false or misleading representations to consumers about the personal location data Google collects, keeps and uses” according to the agency’s press release. In its initial filing, the ACCC is claiming that Google mislead and … Continue reading ACCC Charges Google With Violations Of Consumer Laws Over Android Location Settings →

FTC Acts Against Stalking App Developer

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced its first action regarding applications for smart phones that may be placed on a user’s device without their knowledge or consent (aka stalking apps). The FTC took action against the developer of stalking apps of violating both the Federal Trade Commission Act (FTC Act) and the Children’s Privacy Protection … Continue reading FTC Acts Against Stalking App Developer →

House Judiciary Continues Anti-Competitive Investigation Into Big Tech

Last week, the House Judiciary Committee’s Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law Subcommittee held its third hearing into the market power of online platforms which focused on “The Role of Data and Privacy in Competition” as part of its “investigation into competition in digital markets.” Chair Jerrod Nadler (D-NY) stated that digital technologies have provided Americans … Continue reading House Judiciary Continues Anti-Competitive Investigation Into Big Tech →

Spotlight: A Privacy Bill A Week: “Information Transparency & Personal Data Control Act” (H.R. 2013)

For this week, let’s examine a House bill, the “Information Transparency & Personal Data Control Act” (H.R. 2013) which is sponsored by Suzan DelBene (D-WA) and cosponsored by 22 other House Democrats. DelBene worked in Washington state’s technology sector before transitioning to public service, including a stint with Microsoft. At present, this is not a … Continue reading Spotlight: A Privacy Bill A Week: “Information Transparency & Personal Data Control Act” (H.R. 2013) →

“Digital Accountability and Transparency to Advance Privacy Act” (DATA Privacy Act) (S. 583)

Last week, we spent a bit of time looking at the “Privacy Bill of Rights Act” (S. 1214), the only bill to get an A in the Electronic Privacy Information Center’s report on privacy bills, and likely outside the realm of the politically possible at present. This week, we will examine Senator Catherine Cortez Masto’s … Continue reading “Digital Accountability and Transparency to Advance Privacy Act” (DATA Privacy Act) (S. 583) →

Spotlight: A Privacy Bill A Week: the “Social Media Privacy Protection and Consumer Rights Act of 2019”

Last week, we dove into the “Balancing the Rights Of Web Surfers Equally and Responsibly Act of 2019” (BROWSER Act) (S. 1116). This week, we’ll look at another bipartisan Senate bill but one sponsored by a contestant for the Democratic nomination: Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). She introduced the “Social Media Privacy Protection and Consumer Rights … Continue reading Spotlight: A Privacy Bill A Week: the “Social Media Privacy Protection and Consumer Rights Act of 2019” →

A Privacy Bill A Week: The Data Care Act

As we wait for stakeholders in Congress to finalize and release their proposals to regulate how private sector companies handle, use, and distribute the private information of Americans, we thought there would be value in reviewing some of the key bills already introduced this Congress and some introduced over the last few Congresses so when … Continue reading A Privacy Bill A Week: The Data Care Act →

Possible Preview of Federal Data Security Regulations?

If privacy legislation gets passed by the Congress this year or next (although recent reports suggest a number of impasses between Republicans and Democrats), it might also contain language on data security standards. Such legislation would also likely direct the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to conduct an Administrative Procedure Act (APA) rulemaking to promulgate regulations … Continue reading Possible Preview of Federal Data Security Regulations? →