"Alexa" secretly recorded the private conversation of a Portland woman and sent it to one of her contacts, according to a news report. The Federal Wiretap Act makes it a crime to intentionally intercept a private communication. In 2015, EPIC urged the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice to investigate whether "always on" smart home devices violated federal wiretap law. EPIC recently warned the Consumer Product Safety Commission that the Google Home Mini continuously record users' private conversations because of a product defect. And EPIC recently testified before the CPSC on the need to regulate privacy and security hazards posed by Internet of Things devices.
EPIC submitted comments on the Federal Election Commission's (FEC) proposed rules for political ads on the internet. The FEC proposed two alternative rules, one which would hold internet companies to the same standard as traditional media companies and one which would make exceptions for online ads. EPIC stated: "FEC rules should be technology-neutral and consistent across media platforms." EPIC also recommended that the FEC adopt algorithmic transparency rules, which would require advertisers to disclose the demographic factors behind targeted political ads, as well as the source and payment, and maintain a public directory of advertiser data. EPIC's Project on Democracy and Cybersecurity, established after the 2016 presidential election, seeks to safeguard democratic institutions from various forms of cyber attack.
Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD), a coalition of US and European consumer groups, has written to ninety-five major internet companies, including Amazon and Google, seeking compliance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as a baseline standard for all users worldwide. TACD wrote, "Strong privacy standards should apply to everyone who uses online platforms and services no matter where they live." The letter states that "European regulation provides a solid foundation for data protection, establishing clear responsibilities for companies that collect personal data and clear rights for people whose data is gathered." Following an earlier TACD letter and questions from Congress, Marc Zuckerberg said Facebook would apply GDPR protections in all jurisdictions. The TransAtlantic Consumer Dialogue was established in 1998 and works to promote the consumer interest in EU and US policy making.
