Last evening, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved by voice vote a location privacy bill -- S. 1223, the Location Privacy Protection Act -- sponsored by Senator Al Franken (D-MN) and cosponsored by four other Democratic members of the committee. In his remarks before the vote, Senator Franken stated that “companies that collect our location information are not protecting it the way they should.”
Read More
|
This morning, Congressmen Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Joe Barton, (R-TX), Co-Chairmen of the Congressional Bi-Partisan Privacy Caucus, hosted a roundtable briefing with Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Jonathan Leibowitz, FTC Commissioner Julie Brill, and invited representatives of companies and consumer advocacy groups to discuss the “data broker” industry and consumer concerns with the transparency of data collection practices.
Read More
|
On December 10, 2012, the Federal Trade Commission issued the report, Mobile Apps for Kids: Disclosures Still Not Making the Grade, concluding that mobile app developers have made little progress in providing parents with clear information regarding the data collection and interactive features of apps geared toward children. This new report is a follow up to the FTC’s first survey of children’s apps conducted in 2011.
The new report found a significant discrepancy between the privacy disclosures and the actual practices of many children’s apps. The FTC in the report urges app developers to 1) incorporate privacy protections into the design of the mobile apps and services; 2) provide parents with clear choices about the data collection and sharing; and 3) provide greater transparency regarding how data is collected, used and shared.
In addition, the FTC warned it is launching multiple nonpublic investigations to determine whether certain apps have violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act or engaged in deceptive trade practices.
The full FTC report can be found here: Mobile Apps for Kids: Disclosures Still Not Making the Grade
Written by Nick Stamos, Associate | Alston & Bird LLP
|
In light of changes in technology, particularly in the mobile, interactive gaming and social networking space, this past week the FTC formally requested comments to its proposed changes to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule (“COPPA”). Comments on the proposed changes are due November 28, 2011.
The changes focus on five substantive sections of the rule: (i) definitions, (ii) parental notice, (iii) parental consent, (iv) confidentiality and security, and (v) the self-regulatory safe harbor. Key highlights are stated below.
Read More
|
Congressmen Ed Markey (D-Mass), and Joe Barton (R-Tx.), Co-Chairs of the Bi-Partisan Congressional Privacy Caucus, introduced the Do Not Track Kids Act of 2011, a bill which would amend the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) (Pub. L. No. 105-277, 112 Stat. 2681-728, 15 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.) to extend, enhance and update the provisions relating to the collection, use and disclosure of children’s personal information. The bill also establishes new protections for the personal information of children and teens.
|