Survey says: What FTC follow-up report on kids' apps means for your business
Next time you’re in a long line at the grocery store, watch how parents distract a kid who's feeling cranky. They used to jangle keys or offer a favorite toy. But now a lot of Moms and Dads hand them a smartphone with an app designed for children. As the kids' app market continues to grow, FTC staff issued a report detailing survey results showing that neither app stores nor app developers were giving parents the information they need to figure out what data is being collected from their kids, how it’s shared, and who has access to it. The report
Unfurling a new definition of "creditor" under the Red Flags Rule
Curious about the Red Flags Rule, an identity theft prevention measure first issued in 2007? The FTC has announced a new Interim Final Rule that narrows the circumstances when a creditor is covered. Are you and your clients up on the latest?
Removing the mystery from history sniffing
It’s called history sniffing — the practice of “sniffing” people’s web browsers to determine if they’ve visited certain sites. According to the FTC’s lawsuit against Epic Marketplace and affiliated companies, history sniffing is a particularly invasive form of tracking that raises serious consumer privacy concerns.
Proposed changes to the Used Car Rule: What you auto know
The wheels are turning on proposed updates to the FTC’s Used Car Rule. Formally known as the Used Motor Vehicle Trade Regulation Rule (although only its Mother calls it that), the Rule has been in effect since 1985. It requires car dealers to display a window sticker, called a Buyers Guide, on used cars they offer for sale. The Buyers Guide gives people information about the car — for example, whether it’s being sold “as is” or with a warranty, what percentage of the repair costs a deal
Sporting goods companies: Guard against deception
Some sports fans spend Saturdays on the field. For the rest of us, raising a Big Foam Finger is exertion enough. But we’ve all read stories about the dangers that head injuries pose to participants in contact sports. That’s why the FTC is continuing to raise concerns about possibly unsubstantiated claims for products advertised to reduce the risk of sports concussions.
