Privacy Plus+ News
Stay informed with our latest insights on privacy and technology trends, along with key updates from our firm.
U.S. State Privacy Laws (as of April 2024)
This week, let’s consider the current patchwork of state consumer privacy laws in the United States.
Security vs. Privacy: Unpacking L.A. County's Criminal Record Search Changes
This week, let’s consider the unintended consequences of the Los Angeles County Superior Court’s decision to remove birthdate information from its criminal record search engines.
Stop Selling Data: Avast's Strategy Stymied by the FTC
This week, let’s consider the Federal Trade Commission’s recent settlement with Avast, which, among other things, contains a $16.5 million penalty and bans Avast from selling web browsing data for advertising purposes
Blackbaud's FTC Deal: Delete Data, Amp Up Security
This week, let’s take a look at the Federal Trade Commission’s recent settlement with Blackbaud Inc, a service provider of software and services for more than 45,000 companies, and consider it as guidance on reasonable security measures and data retention practices.
Understanding the New Data Broker Registration Laws
This week, let’s delve into the new data broker registration laws, and focus on the laws in California and Texas.
FTC Cracks Down on Data Broker Sale of Sensitive Location Data
This week, let’s highlight the FTC’s first settlement with a data broker, which includes a proposed order banning the sale of sensitive geolocation data and containing sweeping requirements—to erase or anonymize previously collected data, verify supplier compliance, contract appropriately, and prevent data misuse by others, among other things.
Use of AI Facial Recognition by Rite Aid Banned by the FTC
This week, let’s consider the recent action by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) imposing a five-year ban on Rite Aid's use of AI facial recognition technology.
Meta Challenges the FTC: Is its Authority over Data Privacy on the Line?
This week, let’s highlight Meta’s lawsuit against the Federal Trade Commission and Supreme Court's review of SEC v. Jarkesy — we’re at a pivotal moment in regulatory oversight.
FTC Submits Comments on AI, Copyright, Consumer Protection, and Competition
This week, let’s consider the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) recent submission of a comment to the U.S. Copyright Office addressing artificial intelligence (AI).
The Rise of UOOMs
This week, let’s focus on Universal Opt-Out Mechanisms (UOOMs), like the Global Privacy Control and highlight several related state privacy laws (California, Colorado, and Connecticut).
FTC Boldly Moves into a New Era of Data Minimization and Retention
This week, let’s look at how the Federal Trade Commission has placed its focus on data minimization and retention, and consider whether this could be an inflection point in data privacy regulation.
Ed Tech Privacy and Security Alert: FTC Obtains a New Consent Order against Edmodo
This week, let’s look at the latest consent order secured by the FTC against Ed Tech provider Edmodo for its collection and use of children’s personal information. Companies in the Ed Tech sector, and vigilant parents and educators should pay close attention.
“Data Provenance”: Navigating Ownership, Authenticity, and Rights in the Digital Age
This week, let’s examine “Data Provenance,” a concept that involves tracing the lineage of data — its origins, transformations, and ownership. We’ll also propose a new specialized application for “Data Provenance:” regulating the privacy of personal data.
E.U. and U.S. Have Agreed to A New Data Privacy Framework - What’s Old is New Again
This week, let’s look at the new self-certification procedure in the Data Privacy Framework facilitating the transfer of personal data from the European Union to the United States.
FTC Charges Genetic Testing Company 1Health.io with Privacy and Security Failures
This week, let’s consider the case against 1Health.io. It’s the latest FTC privacy enforcement action, and it is the first case focused on the privacy and security of genetic information.
Texas Data Privacy and Security Act
The Texas Data and Privacy Security Act is the latest comprehensive state privacy bill to be signed into law. Here, we’re summarizing it.
US Intelligence Community Is Buying “Commercially Available” Surveillance Data – What are the Implications?
This week, let’s consider a recently-declassified report issued by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence on the Intelligence Community’s purchase and use of sensitive “Commercially Available Information.”
Janus - Use of Facial Recognition Expanded by the TSA
This week, let’s consider the Janus-faced tension between privacy and security as the TSA expands its use of facial recognition technologies in airports (while keeping its privacy policy far from a model of completeness).
When Atlas Shrugs – FTC Faults Amazon for Alexa and Ring
This week, let’s highlight the latest privacy enforcement actions by the Federal Trade Commission — two cases against Amazon; and also discuss the developing trend of holding company executives directly responsible for data protection.
The Implications of Varying "Opt-in" and "Opt-out" Requirements in New State Privacy Laws
This week, let’s examine a surprising topic: the variations among new state privacy laws regarding the obligations for "opt-in" and "opt-out" consent.