An FTC report examining the business practices of nine tech and social media companies concluded that the services “pose unique risks to children and teens” and that tech companies’ self-regulation efforts have been a failure. (Credit Peter Cade via Getty Images) FTC details how streaming services, social media have become ‘mass surveillance’ machines A review of nine companies’ business practices found that using their services was just the beginning of vast data collection efforts. Sep 19, 2024 By Derek B. Johnson
A bipartisan compromise bill on privacy in Congress would bring transparency to the data broker industry. Some experts believe that’s insufficient. (Image Credit: WLDavies via Getty Images) Congressional privacy bill looks to rein in data brokers Experts say the American Privacy Rights Act is a good first step but that more can be done to protect consumers from the sale of their personal… Apr 15, 2024 By Derek B. Johnson
FTC accuses genetic testing company of exposing sensitive health data The case is the latest in a series of FTC enforcement actions focused on health data privacy and the first involving genetic information. Jun 16, 2023 By Tonya Riley
FTC building (John Taylor/Flickr) GoodRx will settle claim it shared sensitive health data with advertisers The telehealth and discount drug provider promised health data would remain confidential and then allowed it to be used for targeted ads. Feb 1, 2023 By Tonya Riley
In this photo illustration, the logo for online password manager service LastPass is reflected on the internal discs of a hard drive on August 09, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images) LastPass breach exposes how US breach notification laws can leave consumers in the lurch The U.S. famously does not have a federal privacy law and instead relies on 50 different state laws governing breach notification. Jan 11, 2023 By Elias Groll
Most apps used in US classrooms share students’ personal data with advertisers, researchers find Apps custom-designed for schools are sending staggering amounts of data to Facebook and Google, researchers found. Dec 13, 2022 By Tonya Riley
Elon Musk’s Twitter account is displayed on the screen of an iPhone, April 26, 2022. (Photo illustration by Chesnot/Getty Images) Senate Democrats call on FTC to investigate Twitter’s data security Lawmakers worry that Elon Musk's hasty changes on the Twitter platform such as altering its verification service could harm consumers. Nov 17, 2022 By Tonya Riley
Privacy advocates want the FTC to take on invasive daycare apps Researchers have found some daycare apps share information such as the number of diaper changes with third-parties without disclosing it. Sep 28, 2022 By Tonya Riley
Cropped hands of woman pointing at map on smart phone while traveling in city during vacation FTC sues data broker over selling location data that can reveal abortion clinic visits The lawsuit against Kochava follows a Biden administration request that the agency use its authorities to protect reproductive privacy. Aug 29, 2022 By Tonya Riley
Getty Images Federal privacy legislation progresses, but concerns about data brokers loom The latest version of the legislation still leaves loopholes for abuses of data including reproductive health data. Jul 20, 2022 By Tonya Riley