• On May 4, 2011, David Vladeck, Director of the FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection, testified before the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade. He recommended that Congress pass legislation requiring companies to implement reasonable security policies and procedures and to notify consumers when there is a security breach. He also described the FTC’s three-pronged effort to promote data security, which includes law enforcement, consumer education, and data collection and analysis. A copy of his written testimony can be found here.
  • The FTC reportedly has informed some technology companies that it is planning an investigation into Google’s dominance of the Internet search industry. According to reports, the agency has informed selected companies that it plans to issue civil investigative demands on them for information about the industry. Google already has been subject to increased antitrust scrutiny from regulators in multiple states and the European Union.
  • The FTC will host a forum on May 11, 2011, in Washington, DC to examine how the government, businesses, and consumer protection organizations can work together to prevent consumers from receiving unauthorized third-party charges on their phone bills — a practice known as “cramming”. The forum, which will be held at the FTC’s satellite building conference center, will be open to the public. Comments can be submitted to the FTC here.