On Monday, December 18, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released its report on takeaways gleaned from a public event it held in October with creative professionals, including artists and authors. The 43-page report, entitled, “Generative Artificial Intelligence and the Creative Economy Staff Report: Perspectives and Takeaways,” provides an insider view of the FTC’s interest
Privacy Tip #383 – Strengthening Children’s Privacy
We previously wrote about how toys, baby monitors, and other smart devices collect, use, and disclose personal information about children, and risks to children’s privacy. As adults responsible for the safety of children in our care, learning about how smart devices collect, use, and disclose personal information of children should be a top priority, just…
Privacy Tip #382 – Beware of Fake Package Delivery Scams During Holiday Season
There are lots of package deliveries this time of year. When shopping online, companies are great about telling you when to expect the delivery of your purchase. Fraudsters know this and prey on unsuspecting victims especially during this time of year.
Scammers send smishing texts (smishing is just like phishing, but through a text), that…
FTC and CPPA Release Rules to Address AI Risks and Protect Consumer Rights
The rise of AI technology has prompted regulatory agencies to take action and protect consumers’ rights, as evidenced by the recent efforts of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA).
On November 16, 2023, the FTC approved a resolution that authorizes its staff to issue civil investigative demands (CIDs) in…
The AI Executive Order and Antitrust Enforcement: An Uncertain Future
On October 30, 2023, President Biden issued the “Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence.” (AI EO). At 63 pages, the AI EO outlines a comprehensive framework for federal agencies to regulate all aspects of AI markets. Our team will continue to update you on portions of the…
Privacy Tip #379 – Protecting Veterans from Scams
Let us take time this week to thank current members of the military and all veterans for their service in protecting our country and democracy. As the daughter of a veteran, I am profoundly grateful to all of our service members who put their lives and families at risk every day, and those that forged…
Pixel Litigation Drives Transparency in Privacy Policies
Pixels, a piece of tracking software businesses use to assess the success of their advertising campaigns, are creating headaches for in-house counsel as decades-old laws are being revived by litigants. Unlike cookies, pixels cannot be easily blocked with privacy software. The potential consequences for improper use have increased due the Federal Trade Commission’s increasingly close…
Privacy Tip #376 – Credit Reporting Agencies Extend Program to Check Credit Report Weekly for Free
Credit reporting agencies TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax have extended their programs to provide consumers with the ability to access their credit reports for free on a weekly, rather than yearly, basis.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act legally requires credit reporting agencies to provide consumers with access to their credit report for free once per year…
Privacy Tip #374 – FTC Warns Tax Preparation Companies About Use of Tax Information for Other Purposes
The information you provide to your tax preparer is as sensitive as it gets. The assumption is that the tax preparation company is only using your data to prepare your taxes. In an enforcement action against Beneficial Corp., the FTC alleged that the company was engaged in unfair and deceptive practices by “using information collected…
Google Workspace’s Privacy Policy Is Changing. Are You Ready?
Google’s Workspace for Education will require school admins to independently approve all integrated third-party applications students use. Users under 18 cannot use their Google accounts to access third-party applications without consent configured in user settings. Access will terminate automatically on October 1, 2023. Google Workspace for Education’s Terms of Service does not cover third-party applications…