FTC Resources for Reporters
Making Sure Companies Keep Their Privacy Promises to Consumers
When companies tell consumers they will safeguard their personal information, the FTC can and does take law enforcement action to make sure that companies live up these promises. As of May 1, 2011, the FTC has brought 32 legal actions against organizations that have violated consumers’ privacy rights, or misled them by failing to maintain security for sensitive consumer information. In these cases, the FTC can charge the defendants with violating of Section 5 of the FTC Act, which bars unfair and deceptive acts and practices in or affecting commerce. The Commission's Section 5 privacy cases can be viewed here. In addition to the FTC Act, there are 33 other laws, rules and guides that provide the agency with enforcement authority to protect consumers’ privacy.
News Releases:
- Cord Blood Bank Settles FTC Charges that it Failed to Protect Consumers’ Sensitive Personal Information – 01/28/2013
- FTC Settlement Puts an End to "History Sniffing" by Online Advertising Network Charged With Deceptively Gathering Data on Consumers – 12/05/2012
- Google Will Pay $22.5 Million to Settle FTC Charges it Misrepresented Privacy Assurances to Users of Apple's Safari Internet Browser – 08/09/2012
- FTC Becomes First Enforcement Authority in APEC Cross-Border Privacy Rules System – 07/26/2012
- FTC Files Complaint Against Wyndham Hotels For Failure to Protect Consumers' Personal Information – 06/26/2012
- FTC Charges Businesses Exposed Sensitive Information on Peer-to-Peer File-Sharing Networks, Putting Thousands of Consumers at Risk – 06/07/2012
- FTC Testifies on Efforts to Protect Consumer Privacy – 05/09/2012
- Myspace Settles FTC Charges That It Misled Millions of Users About Sharing Personal Information with Advertisers – 05/08/2012
- FTC Testifies on New Framework for Protecting Consumer Privacy – 03/29/2012
- FTC Charges That Security Flaws in RockYou Game Site Exposed 32 Million Email Addresses and Passwords – 03/27/2012
- Membership Reward Service Aimed at College Savers Settles FTC Charges That Its 'TurboSaver Toolbar' Feature Deceptively Collected Consumers' Personal Information – 01/05/2012
- Facebook Settles FTC Charges That It Deceived Consumers By Failing To Keep Privacy Promises – 11/29/2011
- Online Advertiser Settles FTC Charges ScanScout Deceptively Used Flash Cookies to Track Consumers Online – 11/08/2011
- Peer-to-Peer File-Sharing Software Developer Settles FTC Charges – 10/11/2011
- FTC Settles Charges Against Two Companies That Allegedly Failed to Protect Sensitive Employee Data – 05/3/2011
- FTC Charges Deceptive Privacy Practices in Google's Rollout of Its Buzz Social Network – 03/30/2011
- FTC Puts an End to Tactics of Online Advertising Company That Deceived Consumers Who Wanted to "Opt Out" from Targeted Ads – 03/14/2011
- Nearly One Million LifeLock Victims to Receive Refund Checks from FTC – 11/18/2010
- Rite Aid Settles FTC Charges That It Failed to Protect Medical and Financial Privacy of Customers and Employees – 07/27/2010
- Twitter Settles Charges that it Failed to Protect Consumers’ Personal Information – 06/24/2010
- Dave & Buster's Settles FTC Charges it Failed to Protect Consumers' Information – 03/25/2010
- Online Privacy and Security Certification Service Settles FTC Charges – 02/25/2010
- Widespread Data Breaches Uncovered by FTC Probe – 02/22/2010
- CVS Caremark Settles FTC Charges: Failed to Protect Medical and Financial Privacy of Customers and Employees – 02/18/2010
Twitter Questions and Answers
- Facebook Settles FTC Charges That It Deceived Consumers By Failing To Keep Privacy Promises
- FTC Charges Deceptive Privacy Practices in Google's Rollout of Its Buzz Social Network
Reports and Workshops:
- Exploring Privacy – A Roundtable Series
- Protecting Personal Information: Best Practices for Business
Business Education:
Congressional Testimony:
- Testimony “On the Need For Privacy Protections: Perspectives From the Administration and the Federal Trade Commission” before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation – 05/09/2012
- Testimony “On Balancing Privacy and Innovation: Does the President's Proposal Tip the Scale?” before the Subcommittee On Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade of the Committee On Energy and Commerce, United States House of Representatives – 03/29/2012
- Testimony on Data Security before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation – 09/22/2010
- Testimony on Consumer Privacy Before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation – 07/27/2010
