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Consent Isn’t the Only Consideration: NY Comic Con Attendees Disagree that Hijacking Twitter Accounts Makes the Event “100x cooler! For realz.”

October 17, 2013 | Blog | By Cynthia Larose

The comic book industry is no stranger to displays of heroic anger and berserker rage, but over the weekend New York Comic Con (NYCC) was on the receiving end of considerable fan fury after it began ghostwriting effusive tweets about NYCC and posting on the Twitter pages of NYCC attendees in a way that made it appear as though the attendee was the author of the tweet.
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A Different Kind of Adobe Update: Adobe Announces Data Breach Compromising Information of 2.9 Million Customers

October 4, 2013 | Blog | By Cynthia Larose

Adobe Systems Inc.,(ADBE -1.24%) announced earlier today that has been the victim of a cyber attack that has compromised information of 2.9 million of its customers. 
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Reminder: October 16 Is the Effective Date for the FCC’s Written Consent Rule for Prerecorded Telemarketing Calls and Autodialed Telemarketing to Cellphones

October 2, 2013 | Blog | By Cynthia Larose

Companies that engage in telemarketing – either on their own or by contracting with a third-party telemarketing provider – should remember that new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) telemarketing rules go into effect October 16, 2013, requiring companies to obtain prior express written consent from consumers before calling them with prerecorded telemarketing “robocalls” or before using an autodialer to call their wireless numbers with telemarketing messages.
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October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month

October 1, 2013 | Blog | By Cynthia Larose

Cybersecurity begins with a simple message everyone using the Internet can adopt: STOP. THINK. CONNECT. Take security and safety precautions, understand the consequences of your actions and behaviors online and enjoy the benefits of the Internet.
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Privacy Monday - September 30, 2013 - Here's the New Mintz Matrix

September 30, 2013 | Blog | By Cynthia Larose

As we all ponder the potential for the first U.S. government shut down in 18 years, here are some Monday privacy tidbits to change the subject a bit.
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Google Must Face Most Claims in Keyword Wiretap Class Action

September 28, 2013 | Blog | By Cynthia Larose

If you were on Google’s home page yesterday at the office, you probably spent more time than you care to admit playing the “help the letter ‘g’ hit the piñata” game that Google created for its 15th birthday.
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Banks Encouraged to Share Information Related to Elder Abuse

September 26, 2013 | Blog | By Cynthia Larose

One of the most common forms of elder abuse is financial exploitation. Older adults often have valuable assets and vulnerabilities, such as mental or physical disabilities, that make them prime targets by both strangers and family members.
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FTC Seeks Public Comment on Proposed kidSAFE COPPA Safe Harbor Program

September 18, 2013 | Blog | By Cynthia Larose

In a Federal Register notice to be published shortly, the FTC is seeking public comment on the kidSAFE Seal Program proposed by Samet Privacy, LLC under the “safe harbor” provision of the COPPA Rule.
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Privacy Monday - September 16, 2013

September 16, 2013 | Blog | By Cynthia Larose

As we previously reported here, Facebook has proposed a number of revisions to its Data Use Policy and Statement of Rights and Responsibilities. 
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FTC Invites You to Comment on Another COPPA Verifiable Parental Consent Method

September 11, 2013 | Blog | By Cynthia Larose

The FTC has announced (press release) that it is seeking public comment on a second verifiable consent method proposed under the Voluntary Commission Approval Process provision of the COPPA Rule. The proponent is Imperium, LLC (“Imperium”), a Connecticut-based technology services company.
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Internet Peeping Toms and The Internet of Things Face New Hurdles: FTC Settles with TRENDnet, Inc.

September 10, 2013 | Blog | By Cynthia Larose, Adam Veness

The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) recently entered into a settlement agreement with TRENDnet, Inc., a company that sells Internet Protocol (“IP”) cameras that allow customers to monitor their homes remotely over the Internet. 
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Your Cat’s Name Could Soon Be Your “Personal Information”: 4 Steps You Can Take to Prepare Yourself for the Proposed Expansion of California’s Data Breach Notification Requirements

September 10, 2013 | Blog | By Cynthia Larose

As we learned this summer, online account usernames can be, well . . . somewhat embarrassing when made public. Here in California, however, that type of username or an email address, in combination with a password or security question and answer, could soon be considered personal information.
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California Update: What Can Brown Do for You? What You Need to Know About the Two Data Privacy Bills Headed to the Desk of California’s Governor

September 5, 2013 | Blog | By Cynthia Larose

Two data privacy bills, Assembly Bill 370 and Senate Bill 568 have been sent to California Governor Jerry Brown for signature. As we previously reported, A.B. 370 would require commercial websites or online services that collect personally identifiable information to disclose how that site or service responds to “do not track” signals or similar mechanisms. 
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Your Face is for Sale! The 4 Most Interesting Things About the Proposed Update to Facebook’s Governing Documents

September 3, 2013 | Blog | By Cynthia Larose

If you use Facebook (and you likely do, if only to play some game that apparently involves crushing large amounts of candy), then you received an email last week informing you that Facebook is proposing changes to its Data Use Policy and Statement of Rights and Responsibilities. 
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California “Do Not Track” Bill Stays on Track

August 27, 2013 | Blog | By Cynthia Larose

As we predicted, the California Senate has approved A.B. 370, a bill that would require commercial websites or online services that collect personally identifiable information to disclose how that site or service responds to “do not track” signals or similar mechanisms. 
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Privacy Monday - August 26, 2013

August 26, 2013 | Blog | By Cynthia Larose

As the summer winds down, we find that privacy and security issues remain at the top of mind for companies, hackers, and regulators alike.

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You Can Have a Say on a New Mechanism for Obtaining Verifiable Parental Consent under the COPPA Rule

August 22, 2013 | Blog | By Cynthia Larose, Julia Siripurapu

Yesterday, the FTC published a Federal Register notice requesting public comment on the first new method for obtaining verifiable parental consent submitted for FTC approval by AssertID, Inc under the Voluntary Commission Approval Process provision of the COPPA Rule.
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Privacy Monday - August 19, 2013

August 19, 2013 | Blog | By Cynthia Larose

After a brief August hiatus, Privacy Monday is back with privacy goofs, gaffes and tidbits to start your week.
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Hiding in plain sight: Failure to scrub patient data from digital copiers returned to leasing company results in $1.2 million HIPAA settlement

August 15, 2013 | Blog | By Cynthia Larose

We've sounded warnings about the lowly copy machine before. The proliferation of digital devices in the workplace means that data security must extend beyond computer networks and laptops. Seemingly old fashioned equipment, such as copiers, can hide sensitive legally-protected data.
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Summer Break is Over for California Senate, Which May Mean New “Do Not Track” Disclosure Requirements for You

August 14, 2013 | Blog | By Cynthia Larose

What did you do over your summer vacation? Yes, the sad truth is that summer is almost over. You can tell because there wasn’t a single superhero movie that opened at the box office last weekend (no, Smurfs2 does not count) and because the California Senate is preparing to reconvene from its summer recess.
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