Latest Federal Trade Commission Stories
Recommendations Would Help Build Trust in the Mobile Marketplace, Agency Says WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Federal Trade Commission, the nation's chief privacy agency, issued a staff report recommending ways that key players in the rapidly expanding mobile marketplace can better inform consumers about their data practices. The report makes recommendations for critical players in the mobile marketplace: mobile platforms (operating system providers, such as...
Company also Will Pay $800,000 for Allegedly Collecting Kids' Personal Information without their Parents' Consent WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The operator of the Path social networking app has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it deceived users by collecting personal information from their mobile device address books without their knowledge and consent. The settlement requires Path, Inc. to establish a comprehensive privacy program and to...
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Consumer Watchdog Friday outlined three priorities focused on consumer privacy that must be emphasized by the next chair of the Federal Trade Commission as Jon Leibowitz stepped down from the agency after four years on the job. "Jon Leibowitz made the FTC relevant to consumers during his tenure, though he fell far short on antitrust protection and relied on self-regulation too much," said John M. Simpson, director of the public...
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Consumer Watchdog Wednesday called on the Federal Trade Commission to ask Congress to pass Do Not Track legislation because "the self-regulatory effort to design Do Not Track is virtually dead in the water." In a letter to FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz, John M. Simpson, the nonpartisan nonprofit public interest group's Privacy Project Director wrote: "Almost a year ago with great fanfare in the media you said a Do Not Track mechanism...
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the Jan. 28 announcement that an enforcement action against Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing (FHTM) is being initiated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and several attorneys general for allegedly operating a pyramid scheme, the Direct Selling Association (DSA) has received numerous inquiries regarding whether FHTM is a member of the Association. "FHTM is not a member of DSA," confirmed President Joe Mariano. Additionally, he stated...
Lee Rannals for redOrbit.com - Your Universe Online The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says that POM Wonderful has made some deceptive advertising claims, portraying its products as having unmerited health benefits. The commission upheld a ruling by an internal FTC judge that POM was using deceptive advertising by claiming its products have been clinically proven to reduce the risk of heart disease and other ailments. Both POM and the FTC have been embroiled in a battle for more...
Says Action Necessary To Restore Faith in Agency As Effective Antitrust Enforcer WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Consumer Watchdog today called on the Federal Trade Commission to release the 100-page staff report on the 19-month Google investigation as the only way to "restore a modicum of public trust in the Commission's ability to serve as an effective antitrust enforcer." "I call on you to release the FTC staff report to help make clear what was behind the...
redOrbit Staff & Wire Reports - Your Universe Online The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced on Thursday that it has concluded its 19-month antitrust investigation of Google, finding that the company did not unfairly use its Internet search business and mobile patents to harm rivals. The Commission said it had reached a settlement with the online search giant that requires it to change its business practices in the areas of online search, smartphones, games and tablets....
Department of Justice, State Attorneys General Must Press To End Search Bias WASHINGTON, Jan. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Federal Trade Commission's settlement with Google fails to end its most anticompetitive practice, Consumer Watchdog said today and the public interest group called on the Department of Justice and state attorneys general to press forward to end the Internet giant's monopolistic behavior in search results. "Google clearly skews search results to favor...
Landmark Agreements Will Give Competitors Access to Standard-Essential Patents; Advertisers Will Get More Flexibility to Use Rival Search Engines WASHINGTON, Jan. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Google Inc. has agreed to change some of its business practices to resolve Federal Trade Commission concerns that those practices could stifle competition in the markets for popular devices such as smart phones, tablets and gaming consoles, as well as the market for online search...
