Privacy & Data Security

Carrying out a plan announced earlier this year, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) convened a day-long public workshop on “The Big Picture: Comprehensive Online Data Collection” on December 6, 2012.  The workshop was intended to examine the practices and privacy implications of “comprehensive” data collection about consumers’ online activities.  Data collection capabilities of entities like

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

Yesterday, the FTC convened a day-long public workshop to discuss updating its “Dot Com Disclosures” guidance on presenting online advertising disclosures. The FTC is considering whether it should overhaul this guidance, which dates to 2000, to address current trends such as social media and mobile advertising. The workshop also included a panel devoted to mobile

Underage sexting and texting while driving aren’t the only text-related legal battles that are being fought out there. Text messaging by advertisers to consumers is also highly regulated. Companies should only send text messages to those consumers who have given their prior express consent to such text messages (pursuant to a recent FCC order such

The Federal Trade Commission (“Commission” or “FTC”) released the much-anticipated final version of its report entitled “Protecting Consumer Privacy in an Era of Rapid Change” (“Final Report”), which sets forth legislative recommendations for policymakers concerning privacy and data security and best practices for business for addressing online and offline privacy concerns.  While not

The Third Circuit’s decision in New Jersey Retail Merchants Association (“NJRMA”) has several important implications for gift card sellers, including compliance with abandoned property laws, which have been discussed here.  Less widely discussed is the potential conflict between NJRMA’s holding that gift card sellers must collect buyer ZIP codes and privacy restrictions contained in