FTC Launches Probe of Data Broker Privacy Practices

Bachman, Katy. "FTC Launches Probe of Data Broker Privacy Practices." Adweek, December 18, 2012.   

From the article: "Last week's Congressional Bipartisan Privacy Caucus briefing on data brokers and privacy must have left quite an impression on Federal Trade Commission chairman Jon Leibowitz, who opened a probe today to study the privacy practices of the data broker industry.

The agency issued orders to nine data brokerages to provide information to the FTC about how they collect and use data about consumers by Feb. 1. Acxiom, Corelogic, Datalogix, eBureau, ID Analytics, Intelius, Peekyou, Rapleaf and Record Future all received the 15-page order." Read more

Most Children's Apps Are Failing on Privacy, FTC Finds

Holpuch, Amanda. "Most Children's Apps Are Failing on Privacy, FTC Finds." The Guardian, December 10, 2012. 

From the article: "Most mobile applications aimed at children collect information – including device IDs, location data and phone numbers – without their parents' permission, according to a Federal Trade Commission report released Monday.

The FTC is also launching investigations to see whether some of these app companies are acting in violation of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (Coppa) or the Federal Trade Commission Act." Read more

See also 

"Mobile Apps for Kids: Disclosures Still Not Making the Grade." Federal Trade Commission Staff Report,  December 2012.

FTC Releases Facial Recognition Tech Guidelines

Osborne, Charlie. "FTC Releases Facial Recognition Tech Guidelines." ZDNet, October 23, 2012. 

From the article: "The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has released "best practices" guidelines for companies that use facial recognition technology.

For many of us, tagging friends on Facebook or handing over biometric information may not seem like such a big deal -- but that information, stored on servers worldwide, can sometimes border on privacy infringement. Commercially, it's no longer a rare thing for such technology to be used -- but as adoption expands, if agencies wish to protect consumer rights, guidelines at the least should be implemented.

The new FTC report, titled "Facing Facts: Best Practices for Common Uses of Facial Recognition Technologies," is aimed at guiding businesses through the murky waters of using facial recognition for innovative products, but at the same time maintaining consumer privacy and rights." Read more

See also

Federal Trade Commission. "FTC Recommends Best Practices for Companies That Use Facial Recognition Technologies." October 22, 2012.