MilConsumer Blog Feed

In a complaint against Twitter announced today , the Federal Trade Commission alleged the company deceptively used Twitter users’ phone numbers and email addresses, which were collected for security purposes, for other purposes from 2014 to 2019. Users provided phone numbers or email addresses to Twitter for a variety of security purposes, such as for two-factor authentication or to unlock an account where Twitter detected suspicious or malicious...

It’s short, to the point, and – as these things go – we think readable. It’s a new publication called FTC Safeguards Rule: What Your Business Needs to Know and it may be the resource you’re looking for to help your company comply with the revised Safeguards Rule. After asking for public comments, hosting a national forum, and reviewing what consumers and businesses had to say, the FTC revised its Standards for Safeguarding Customer Information –...

It’s FTC 101. Companies can’t tell consumers they will use their personal information for one purpose and then use it for another. But according to the FTC , that’s the kind of digital bait-and-switch Twitter pulled on unsuspecting consumers. Twitter asked users for personal information for the express purpose of securing their accounts, but then also used it to serve targeted ads for Twitter’s financial benefit. It wasn’t Twitter’s first alleged...

The FTC has long stressed the importance of good incident response and breach disclosure as part of a reasonable information security program, both through cases and business guidance resources. [1] In some instances, the FTC Act creates a de facto breach disclosure requirement because the failure to disclose will, for example, increase the likelihood that affected parties will suffer harm. Both security breach detection and response are vital to...

Whether your company is in the educational technology business or you have kids in schools where ed tech is used, you’ll want to read the FTC’s Policy Statement on Education Technology and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act . The key takeaway : Kids shouldn’t have to surrender their privacy rights to do their schoolwork or attend class remotely. That’s why companies can’t require parents and schools to agree to the comprehensive...

Mark your calendar for October 19, 2022. That’s when the FTC will convene Protecting Kids from Stealth Advertising in Digital Media . Among the developments the virtual event will consider are the use of marketing tactics that make it difficult for children to distinguish between entertainment and advertising, and the rise of “kid influencers” whose videos often blur the line between paid promotions and unsponsored creative content. Researchers...

In making the major decision to seek professional help, people battling addiction – and their families, friends, and colleagues – are looking for accurate information about the treatment best suited to the individual. But according to a proposed FTC settlement , R360 LLC, a company that provided marketing services to addiction treatment centers, and its principal, Steven Doumar, ran national ads that used false claims to promote their clients’...

“BEST DAMN AMERICAN MADE GEAR ON THE PLANET” So roared a Utah-based company called Lions Not Sheep in promoting its apparel and accessories online. But according to an FTC complaint, the company was pulling the wool over consumers’ eyes. Lions Not Sheep just signed a proposed settlement with the FTC over the company’s allegedly false Made in USA claims. Lions Not Sheep sells merchandise through social media, on Amazon, and on Etsy. It has...

Scammers often target job seekers and prospective entrepreneurs with bogus employment and money-making offers. We know that because the FTC has investigated and stopped many of them . But scammers are a relentless breed and continue to make deceptive pitches in online ads, on job websites, and on social media platforms. Knowing some of the red flags can help you spot these scams. Job scams come in a variety of guises. Some fraudsters falsely...

The FTC’s latest credit repair case alleges that the creators of The Credit Game falsely promised to help people quickly boost their credit scores and misled them to think they could make millions by running their own credit repair companies. The defendants even went so far as to urge people to invest their COVID-19 government benefits in this supposed money-making opportunity. The lawsuit charges Michael Rando, his wife, Valerie Rando, and seven...