Legal Resources
In Short: Advertising & Privacy Disclosures in a Digital World
May 30, 2012Following up on the FTC's 2000 "Dot Com Disclosures" publication, a national workshop to consider the need for new guidance concerning effecting advertising and privacy disclosures in online and mobile environments
Paper, Plastic . . . or Mobile
April 26, 2012FTC workshop to examine the use of mobile payments in the marketplace and how this emerging technology impacts consumers
Protecting Consumer Privacy in an Era of Rapid Change: Recommendations for Businesses and Policymakers
March 26, 2012FTC report calling for privacy by design, simplified choices for businesses and consumers, and greater transparency about information collection and use
Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book for 2011
February 28, 2012Report listing the top consumer complaints received by the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Database in 2011
Mobile Apps for Kids: Current Privacy Disclosures Are Disappointing
February 21, 2012FTC staff report featuring the results of a survey of mobile apps for children and concluding that app stores and app developers don’t provide parents with the information they need to determine what data is being collected from their children, how it’s being shared, or who will have access to it.
Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book January-December 2010
March 8, 2011Report analyzing consumer complaints received by the FTC in 2010, including a list of the Top 10 Consumer Complaints and complaint data by state and metropolitan area
FACT Act Interim Report - 2010
January 12, 2011Interim Report to Congress describing progress on a national study examining the accuracy of credit reports.
Protecting Consumer Privacy in an Era of Rapid Change: A Proposed Framework for Businesses and Policymakers
December 1, 2010A preliminary staff report proposing a framework to balance the privacy interests of consumers with innovation that relies on consumer information to develop beneficial new products and services, including the implementation of a “Do Not Track” mechanism.
Protecting Youths in an Online World
July 15, 2010Protecting Youths in an Online World: Prepared Statement of the Federal Trade Commission, Presented by Jessica Rich, Deputy Director, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance.
Protecting Kids' Privacy Online: Reviewing the COPPA Rule
June 2, 2010Workshop about the costs and benefits of the FTC’s Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) Rule in light of rapidly evolving technology and changes in the way children use and access the Internet.
An Examination of Children’s Privacy: New Technology and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act
April 30, 2010Prepared Statement of the Federal Trade Commission Entitled "An Examination of Children's Privacy: New Technology and The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act," Presented by Jessica Rich, Deputy Director, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Before the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance of the Committee On Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate.
NetCetera: OnGuardOnline.gov's Internet Safety Campaign for Children: A Report to Congress
March 31, 2010Report to Congress about efforts to get the word out about Internet safety for children by aggressively promoting a new booklet, Net Cetera: Chatting with Kids About Being Online, to schools, police and sheriff’s departments, and PTAs nationwide.
Exploring Privacy: A Roundtable Series
March 17, 2010A series of roundtables exploring the privacy challenges posed by technologies and business practices that collect and use consumer data. Discussion included how best to protect consumer privacy while supporting beneficial uses of the information and technological innovation.
Virtual Worlds and Kids: Mapping the Risks
December 10, 2009Report examines the incidence of sexually and violently explicit content in online virtual worlds. Urges operators of virtual worlds to take a number of steps to keep explicit content away from children and teens, and recommends that parents familiarize themselves with the virtual worlds their kids visit.
Best Practices for Business: Protecting Personal Information and Fighting Fraud with the Red Flags Rule
April 29, 2009Series of workshops that focused on how businesses can better secure personal information, implement best practices for developing an appropriate data security program, and respond to data breaches and other privacy and security threats.
Beyond Voice: Mapping the Mobile Marketplace Report
April 1, 2009Report from May 2008 town hall meeting about issues arising in the mobile commerce marketplace.
Digital Rights Management
March 25, 2009Conference on the use of digital rights management—technologies typically used by hardware manufacturers, publishers, and copyright holders to attempt to control how consumers access and use media and entertainment content—and how to improve disclosure about DRM limitations.
Securing Personal Data in the Global Economy
March 16, 2009Conference hosted by the FTC in conjunction with APEC and OECD addressing how companies can manage personal data-security issues in a global information environment where data can be stored and accessed from multiple jurisdictions.
Self-Regulatory Principles for Online Behavioral Advertising
February 12, 2009This report from FTC staff describes the agency’s ongoing examination of online behavioral advertising and sets forth revisions to proposed self-regulatory principles.
Credit Report Complaint Referral Program Report
December 30, 2008Report to Congress on system for receiving complaints from consumers about possible violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act by nationwide consumer reporting agencies. Covers period from initiation of program in 2004 through 2007.