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FTC Report on Streaming and Social Media Companies Emphasizes Privacy, Security, and AI-Related Risks

September 30, 2024

The Federal Trade Commission published the results from its 6(b) study on streaming and social media companies, detailing vast commercial surveillance of consumers—including non-users—for the purposes of monetizing of their personal information.
- Big Data
- Children's Privacy
- Communications Privacy
- Competition and Privacy
- Consumer Privacy
- Cybersecurity
- Data Brokers
- Data Protection
- Location Tracking
- Social Media Privacy
- Updates
FTC Takes Action Against Businesses Using Unproven, Deceptive, and Fraudulent AI Systems

September 25, 2024

The Federal Trade Commission’s Operation AI Comply is in full swing. The Commission’s new initiative aims to crack down on AI-infused frauds and deceptions to protect consumers from deceptive, inaccurate, and fraudulent AI-powered practices like chatbots, fake online reviews, or false claims of huge earnings. The Commission has taken action against DoNotPay, Ascend Ecom, Ecommerce Empire Builders, Rytr, and the FBA Machine for deceptive uses of AI that harmed consumers.
- Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights
- Commercial AI Use
- Consumer Privacy
- Data Protection
- Updates
EPIC, NCLC Urge FTC to Clarify Scope and Include Non-Monetary Costs in Tech Support Telemarketing Sales Rule

June 24, 2024

EPIC and NCLC support the FTC requiring inbound tech support calls to comply with the TSR, but urges the Commission to clarify that this includes software and device components, and to consider non-monetary costs to consumers.
- Consumer Privacy
- Cybersecurity
- Data Brokers
- Data Security
- Robocalls
- Updates
Comments on FTC Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) Inbound Tech Support Calls NPRM

June 21, 2024

EPIC and NCLC support the FTC requiring inbound tech support calls to comply with the TSR, but urges the Commission to clarify that this includes software and device components, and to consider non-monetary costs to consumers.
- Consumer Privacy
- Cybersecurity
- Data Brokers
- Data Security
- Robocalls
- APA Comments
FTC Finalizes Health Breach Notification Rule Modifications, Improving Health Privacy Safeguards for Consumers

May 6, 2024

The Federal Trade Commission recently finalized changes to modernize the Health Breach Notification Rule (HBNR), expanding its scope and improving its efficacy to address health privacy and data security risks that fall outside of HIPAA.
- Cybersecurity
- Data Protection
- Data Security
- Health Privacy
- Updates
Coalition Led by EPIC Applauds FTC Modifications to Impersonation Scam Rule

May 2, 2024

EPIC, joined by a coalition of consumer advocacy organizations, applauded the FTC's impersonation rule to cover impersonation of individuals and to create means and instrumentalities liability for a business who 'knows or should have known' their offerings facilitate impersonation scams.
- Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights
- Commercial AI Use
- Consumer Privacy
- Robocalls
- Updates
EPIC and Partner Organizations Comments on FTC Rule on Impersonation of Government, Businesses, and Individuals (SNPRM)

May 1, 2024
- Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights
- Commercial AI Use
- Consumer Privacy
- Robocalls
- APA Comments
EPIC Applauds FTC Prohibition Against Avast’s Disclosure of Sensitive Information for Advertising Purposes

April 29, 2024

Avast marketed software to consumers that the company promised would limit tracking online by blocking invasive third-party cookies. But even as it promised privacy protection, Avast collected and sold consumers’ sensitive browsing information to third parties.
- Consumer Privacy
- Data Protection
- Intelligence Surveillance
- Surveillance Oversight
- Updates
Comments of EPIC in re the Federal Trade Commission’s Proposed Consent Order with Avast, Ltd. et al.

April 10, 2024

EPIC commends the Commission for using its authority to investigate and take enforcement actions against companies like Avast engaged in unfair and deceptive practices, especially where companies wrongfully profit from the selling of web browsing data and other sensitive information. Avast exploited users’ desire for privacy protections by promising that its software would block tracking technologies that collect browsing information—while selling such data itself. We support the Commission’s enforcement action against Avast, and we offer two recommendations to make the final Order even stronger: (1) the Commission should extend the core prohibition of the Order to cover sales or disclosures of browsing data for other purposes, such as sales of data to government contractors for national security purposes; and (2) the Commission should incorporate a comprehensive data minimization framework with express collection, processing, transfer, and retention limits.
- Consumer Privacy
- Data Brokers
- Data Protection
- Intelligence Surveillance
- Surveillance Oversight
- Comments
EPIC Applauds Proposed FTC Order With Blackbaud, Urges Stronger Protections for Donor Privacy

March 20, 2024

EPIC submitted comments in response to the FTC’s proposed order with Blackbaud, a donor management software company used by nonprofits, which failed to implement basic cybersecurity measures and failed to appropriately notify impacted consumers when a months-long breach occurred.
- Consumer Privacy
- Cybersecurity
- Data Protection
- Data Security
- Health Privacy
- Updates

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