Google is once again under FTC scrutiny, this time over its advertisement methods and whether it is using them to harm its competition, something that is separate from the issue closed earlier this year concerning whether it was in violation of antitrust laws. For now it remains a preliminary investigation, and there's no word on whether the agency has pegged Google as having broken any laws.
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‘FTC’ Stories
Google under investigation by FTC over advertisements
FTC begins COPPA warning mail-blast as child app rules approach
The Federal Trade Commission has begun warning app developers that they must bring their software in-line with the upcoming Children's Online Privacy Protection Rule, firing out letters highlighting new expectations for titles that can include multimedia of underage users. Over ninety letters have been sent, to both US and foreign developers, the FTC said this week, notifying them that if their apps can capture photos, videos, or audio of children, the amended COPPA may well affect them.
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FTC selects two winners in Robocall Challenge, gives each $25,000
Back in October 2012, the FTC decided to make the battle against annoying robocalls public, tasking the hivemind with a challenge to develop technology for dealing with the calls. The incentive was a $50,000 award, in addition to a trip to Washington D.C. where the solution would be presented. Now, nearly six months later, the challenge is over and the winners have been selected.
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Tougher mobile and social ad rules pit FTC against marketers
New advertising guidelines aimed at making online and social media ads more transparent have been published by the Federal Trade Commission, toughening the rules on disclosure for product pushers. The amended document, ".com Disclosures" [pdf link], adds smartphone advertising and social media marketing to its original 2000 guidance; in short, the FTC said, if you can't give full disclosure on a device or service like Twitter, then you shouldn't be using it for promotion.
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FTC charges 29 defendants with sending over 180 million spam text messages
If you've ever received a spam text message offering a free gift card or prize from a popular retailer, it could very well have originated from one of the 29 defendants the FTC has charged with sending over 180 million spam text messages. The text messages alleged that individuals could receive a prize from Best Buy, Walmart, Target, or similar stores for free by providing personal information and applying or subscribing to services.
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Rockefeller introduces Do Not Track bill, is backed by Consumer Watchdog
Senator Jay Rockefeller has introduced a Do Not Track bill, which would require the FTC to make standards regarding consumers' ability to opt-out of having their information collected. This is following the first Do Not Track report we saw back in 2011, which was a variant of the current bill. Consumer Watchdog has jumped into the mix, backing the bill.
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HTC settles security issue with the FTC
HTC was slapped by the FTC over a security issue that left users' information vulnerable. This was the result of the company altering the OS on its smartphones and tablets in such a way that the additional features implemented left information open to collection by malicious programs. Just a bit ago, the FTC announced that HTC has settled the matter.
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FTC fines Path app $800,000 over unauthorized data collection [UPDATE]
A year ago Path's app for iPhone received a lot of criticism because it was discovered that the app was accessing users' contacts without permission. The developers quickly made things right and released an update to fix the permissions. However, the FTC caught them anyways and fined them for violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (since some users were under 13).
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FTC releases long list of mobile privacy recommendations
As smartphones and the apps we run on them become more and more popular, concerns over privacy are growing as well. The FTC has taken a pretty strong stance on privacy issues throughout the years, and today it delivered a list of recommendations to pretty much everyone involved in the smartphone business. These recommendations give platform holders, app developers, and advertisers suggestions on what they can do improve mobile privacy, and we have to say that there are some pretty good ideas in the report.
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FTC’s Chairman Jon Leibowitz set to announce his departure Friday
In an interview earlier today, the FTC's Chairman Jon Leibowitz stated that he'll formally announce his departure from the agency tomorrow. Leibowitz first joined the agency in 2004, eventually being dubbed Chairman in 2009. Whispers of his imminent departure have been circulating since last year, although nothing had been confirmed until today.
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Leaks in the Google antitrust probe brings the FTC under scrutiny
Google has been in the news in increasing frequency over the last six or so months concerning an FTC antitrust probe into its business practices. Most of the information that surfaced about the case came from sources identified only by their claim to be familiar with the situation. Now the FTC is under scrutiny from Congress over the amount of information that leaked to the media.
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Google got off easy in antitrust case by pressuring regulators to relent
Many critics both large and small have been vocal about the mere wrist slapping Google received after a lengthy antitrust probe by the FTC into its practices, which are said to be harmful to its competitors. The debacle has been called a failure on the agency's part to protect the American consumer, among other things. As it turns out, however, the FTC was relentless in its investigation, but Google was just as relentless back.
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