The Bottom Line With many schools closed through the end of the 2019-2020 academic year, children — like many others of all ages — are rapidly finding much more of their day-to-day lives taking place online. As a result, the FTC has provided guidance for ed tech providers and schools that utilize Continue Reading
Key Considerations for Retailers in the Face of COVID-19
The Bottom Line Retailers may be rushing to adapt to the new normal and embrace an e-commerce model, but there are still a myriad of legal issues to navigate.As the world of “e-tail” becomes king — at least for now — it is more important than ever to thoroughly understand the implications of new Continue Reading
Is the Influencer Landscape Going to Change? FTC Seeks Public Comments on Its Endorsement Guides
Update The Bottom Line The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently announced a review of its “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising” (Endorsement Guides) and that it is seeking public comments on whether changes need to be made to them. While the FTC has been Continue Reading
FTC Offers YouTube Channel Owners Guidance on COPPA Compliance
The Bottom Line As a result of the FTC’s action against Google and YouTube, YouTube channel owners will be required to designate whether their channels and content are “directed to children” under COPPA. The FTC’s recent guidance will help channel owners make this determination. This guidance is Continue Reading
The FTC is Drilling Down on Negative Option Marketing Practices
The Bottom Line While the FTC’s action against Match plays out in court, it is worth noting that the FTC last initiated a regulatory review of the Negative Option Rule over a decade ago in 2009. When the FTC completed that review in 2014, it concluded that amendments were not warranted because the Continue Reading
FTC Brings Actions Against the Sale of ‘Fake Indicators of Social Media Influence’ and ‘Fake Reviews’
The Bottom Line The FTC’s actions challenging the sale of fake social media indicators and online reviews are intended to deter others from polluting the online marketplace with deceptive and inaccurate information. It is important to reiterate that the FTC brought its actions against two chief Continue Reading
FTC Releases New Resources for Influencers
The Bottom Line The FTC’s brochure and microsite are new resources that will be helpful for both marketers training their influencers as well as to influencers themselves in making disclosures. This clear and practical guidance from the FTC should put all involved parties — including influencers Continue Reading
Law360 | FTC Settlement Over COPPA Will Change YouTube’s Biz Model
Google and YouTube to Pay $170 Million in Largest Ever COPPA Settlement
The Bottom Line The settlement reached by the FTC and the New York State Attorney General with Google and YouTube imposes significant costs on the companies, even beyond the record-breaking $170 million civil penalty. It is a signal to advertisers, content providers, app developers and website Continue Reading
FTC to Review the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act
The Bottom Line The FTC’s latest COPPA review will not only impact online services that traditionally have been directed to children, but may extend to services that historically have not been considered child-directed, such as interactive television, interactive gaming and chatbots. The COPPA Continue Reading