Edward Holman

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ThinkstockPhotos-489306446On September 9, 2015, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held its first “Start with Security” conference at the University of California Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco. The conference was the first in a series of events hosted by the agency intended to provide additional guidance to businesses regarding how to keep consumers’ information secure.

The FTC’s San Francisco event was aimed primarily at start-ups and software developers, with panels focusing on building a culture of security, scaling security during periods of rapid growth, investing in security, vulnerability disclosure and response, and implementing security features. The panels were each moderated by a staff attorney from the FTC’s Division of Privacy and Identity Protection, with panelists hailing primarily from Silicon Valley tech companies. Each panel is summarized below.
Continue Reading FTC Begins “Start with Security” Conference Series

ThinkstockPhotos-455670115-webBeginning January 1, 2016, the recently-enacted “Delaware Online Privacy and Protection Act”1 (DOPPA) will take effect and will impact all companies with online services used by Delaware residents. DOPPA consists of three separate online privacy laws: (1) a law prohibiting certain types of online marketing or advertising to minors;2 (2) a law requiring commercial websites and online services to post privacy policies;3 and (3) a law restricting government access to user records kept by online book service providers.4 The laws are substantively similar to online privacy laws already in effect in other states, and are particularly similar to laws in effect in California. The Consumer Protection Unit of the Delaware Department of Justice can enforce DOPPA’s three laws under the same provisions that it enforces other state consumer protection laws.5 DOPPA does not create a private right of action for any of the three laws.6
Continue Reading Delaware Enacts New Online Privacy Laws

Despite reaching settlements with more than 50 organizations on data security issues since the late 1990s, no organization seriously challenged the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) authority to bring such cases until FTC v. Wyndham Worldwide Corp. made headlines in 20121 The case brought rampant speculation from the privacy and data security community on the likely outcome and potential impact on a number of issues, ranging from the FTC’s enforcement authority to national and state data security laws. Recent rulings rejecting Wyndham’s motions to dismiss may not break new ground for the FTC, but the commission’s ability to overcome the first challenges to its data security enforcement authority are significant and continue the agency’s trajectory as the country’s leading data security enforcer.2
Continue Reading The Wyndham Rulings and the FTC’s Leadership on Data Security Enforcement

The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) enforcement actions for claims of compliance with Safe Harbor privacy frameworks by U.S. companies have increased significantly over the past few months. In the first two months of 2014 alone, the FTC announced settlements with 13 U.S. companies over allegations that the companies falsely claimed they held current certifications under the U.S.-EU Safe Harbor Privacy Framework.1 The FTC’s focus has not been limited to the EU framework, as three of the settlements include claims that the companies falsely represented holding current certifications under the U.S.-Swiss Safe Harbor Privacy Framework.
Continue Reading FTC Steps Up Enforcement of Safe Harbor Compliance Claims

In recent years, data-driven marketing has spread across numerous sectors of the economy. While the industry provides many benefits and conveniences for consumers by lowering the cost of products and services and helping businesses better capture customer preferences, privacy advocates and legislators are pushing for increased government regulation over companies known broadly as “data brokers.”
Continue Reading GAO and Senate Commerce Committee Release Studies Calling for Increased Oversight and Regulation of “Data Broker” Industry

California Governor Jerry Brown recently signed into law A.B. 370,1 which amends the California Online Privacy Protection Act2 (CalOPPA) to require certain operators of websites and other online services to disclose how they respond when a visitor’s web browser sends a “Do Not Track” signal. The bill also requires operators to disclose the data collection practices of certain third parties operating on the website or online service. Because this law affects every person or company that operates a website or online service that collects personally identifiable information from California consumers, it impacts companies beyond California’s borders. The law takes effect on January 1, 2014.
Continue Reading California Amends CalOPPA to Require Do-No-Track Disclosures