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
AdExchanger | Do Huge FTC Fines Signal a Huge Increase in Enforcement?
If the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) were a private business, it would be having a very good quarter. The FTC recently agreed to a $700 million settlement with Equifax over its massive 2017 data security breach, which exposed the personal information of nearly 150 million people. And now the Continue Reading
A Must “Follow”: Stricter Groundwork for Influencer Marketing
6th Edition: Trends in Marketing Communications Law Throughout 2018, regulators and self-regulators stayed focused on deceptive influencer marketing campaigns and native advertising practices across the United States. In an action against Creaxion Corporation, a public relations agency, and Continue Reading
The NAD Exposes Hidden Fees
6th Edition: Trends in Marketing Communications Law As a regulatory force in its own right, the National Advertising Division (NAD) makes waves whenever it brings a challenge on its own behalf against a major advertiser. And, with recent leadership changes for the Advertising Self-Regulatory Continue Reading
State Attorneys General Take the Reins in Policing Deceptive Advertising
6th Edition: Trends in Marketing Communications Law It can be easy to focus solely on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) when evaluating the regulatory landscape for advertising and marketing practices. But with the FTC still ramping up its new commissioners, who were sworn in between May and Continue Reading
After 20 Years, COPPA Shows No Signs of Slowing Down
6th Edition: Trends in Marketing Communications Law Last year marked 20 years since Congress passed the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Fittingly, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) kicked off 2018 by settling two back-to-back cases with companies alleged to have violated COPPA. Continue Reading
FTC Workshop Takes Aim at Online Ticket Sales Market
The Bottom Line The FTC Workshop highlighted the issues facing consumers attempting to purchase event tickets online, where conflicting viewpoints emerged between preventing seller abuse and protecting buyers’ freedom to dispose of their tickets as they choose.Given the cutthroat competition in Continue Reading
Two Websites Settle FTC Allegations That They Failed to Secure Consumer Data
The Bottom Line The security of consumer data is an important priority for the FTC and has become even more important in recent years, particularly when such data is subject to attacks by malicious third parties. The FTC emphasized that both settlements contained “new requirements” going beyond Continue Reading
FTC and FDA Target Advertising of CBD Health Claims
The Bottom Line The legalization of hemp is a major step in establishing a potentially significant new industry. However, producers and marketers need to exercise caution when making health-related claims in connection with hemp-based product. The FTC and FDA will continue to aggressively review Continue Reading