A ban on sugary drinks in NYC that was set to take effect today was put on hold by Justice Milton A. Tingling Jr. of State Supreme Court in Manhattan yesterday. The much discussed and debated law would have put a 16-ounce cap on sweetened bottled drinks and fountain beverages sold at city restaurants, delis,
Children/Kids
Who Knew There Would Be Two Teachable Moments in Cookie Ads?
CARU and NAD are sister self-regulatory agencies under the BBB’s ASRC umbrella, NAD aimed at truth in advertising generally and CARU focusing on child-directed ads. Both NAD and CARU reviewed ads for WhoNu cookies in 2012 and came to different conclusions as to similar ads based on the maturity of the audiences. It is a…
Upcoming Panel: “COPPA: The Final Word”
On July 1, 2013, sweeping new regulations for marketing to children take effect. (See details here). In updating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) Rule, the Federal Trade Commission has extended its reach to new businesses and new information. Even if you were safe in the past, you may not be in this…
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like… COPPA
Just in time for Christmas, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) has unveiled its long-anticipated update to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule (“COPPA Rule”). The COPPA Rule, which has been in place since 1999, imposes a variety of privacy requirements on “operators” of websites and online services that are “directed to children” under…
Changes Coming to the COPPA Cabana?
The holiday season is upon us. For those families that celebrate Christmas, hopeful lists from boys and girls have likely already made their way to the North Pole. If you’re a proscratinator or just don’t remember anymore what a postage stamp looks like, Santa has gone online (he may be old but he’s still hip.)…
Advertising to Kids – More than Just Truth and Accuracy
We focus a lot on this blog on claim substantiation. That is largely what we do, and largely where our readers focus. But a review of CARU’s decisions in the past month serve as a good reminder that when directing ads to kids under 12, there is more than substantiation at issue. Advertisers have a…
FTC Blitzes Concussion Prevention Claims
As football season gets under way, the news is filled with stories about the toll concussions suffered by players can take on the brain, and even the Center for Disease Control has offered advice on the subject. Last month the FTC announced a complaint and settlement with a marketer that promised that its mouthguard could…
FTC to Apps: “We’ve Got a Guide for That”
Mobile apps are off the hook! For those of us a bit older, the world clearly is “Going Mobile.”
Just this week, the White House launched its new mobile app, the Pew Research center released a study on Americans’ privacy concerns with apps, Angry Birds marked Freddie Mercury’s birthday by giving him…
FTC Says If Your Baby Could Read She Would Know That “Your Baby Can Read” Tradename is Misleading
Most parents have seen the commercial –three-year olds reading Harry Potter, one-year olds cruising through books. If you’re like me, you probably felt a little guilty that you hadn’t availed yourself of the learning miracle promised by “Your Baby Can Read” for your kids. “Your Baby Can Read!” is a $200 set of DVDs, pop-up…
FTC Modifies COPPA Rule Proposal
The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) has released a new set of proposed amendments in its ongoing review of its Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”) regulations. These amendments would alter key definitions in the COPPA regulations, modifying the FTC’s original proposal from September 2011. If finalized, the FTC’s proposals to date will significantly change who…