• On May 8, 2012, the FTC announced that it had reached a settlement with the social networking service Myspace over charges that it allowed advertisers to access personally identifiable information despite previous assurances that it would keep such information private. Specifically, the FTC found that Myspace Advertisers were able to access the unique “Friend ID” of users and link this identifier to other personal information. The settlement requires Myspace to implement a comprehensive privacy program, submit to independent audits, and refrain from misrepresentations about its privacy controls. More information regarding the settlement is available here.
  • On May 9, 2012, FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz testified before Congress about the agency’s efforts to protect consumer privacy, including the FTC’s support for implementation of a “Do Not Track” mechanism that would allow consumers to control the tracking of their online activities across websites. The Chairman also noted that the FTC encourages Congress to consider enacting general privacy legislation, as well as data security and breach notification legislation. More information regarding Chairman Leibowitz’s testimony is available here.
  • On May 30, 2012, the FTC will host a day-long, public “Dot Com Disclosures Workshop” addressing the need for new guidance for advertisers on appropriate disclosures for the online and mobile environment. The Workshop will concentrate on technological advancements and marketing developments that have emerged since the FTC first issued its online advertising disclosure guidelines known as “Dot Com Disclosures”. Revisions will be consistent with the goals of the original guidelines, and will continue to emphasize that general consumer protection laws apply equally to online and mobile marketers. More information on the Workshop is available here.