FTC

EU Commissioner Not Satisfied With Google's Move to Label Search Results - Posted May 28, 2013
The European market trial of Google's search engine that identify results that point to other Google products will be extended a month and will likely... [SocialTimes.com]

Will Google and the FTC Go In for a Rematch? - Posted May 23, 2013
The FTC is reportedly investigating Google for anti-competitive actions in the $9.64-billion U.S. display advertising market. An inquiry in display advertising might look initially like more of a ... [SocialTimes.com]

Some Data Brokers Are Willing Sell Information Illegally, FTC Warns - Posted May 7, 2013
The Federal Trade Commission has warned ten data broker companies that their practices may violate the Fair Credit Reporting Act after a secret-shopping operation revealed that the companies were willing to sell consumer data without verifying consumer iden... [SocialTimes.com]

Could the Continuing Food Label PR Wars Lead to Healthier Products? - Posted April 4, 2013
When we hear the words "deceptive marketing", we generally think of campaigns that promote the blatantly false or grossly exaggerated "benefits" of a product (i.e. the butt-sculpting superpower of Sketchers Shape Ups or the death-cheating health claims of POM juice). In cases like these, the offendi... [PRNewser]

Parenting in the Age of the Mobile Phone: Infographic - Posted March 28, 2013
The Federal Trade Commission recently put out new rules for app developers whose apps may be used by children. Today, the commission also put out an infographic advising parents on how to ensure their kids are using apps safely and responsibly. ... [SocialTimes.com]

Social Media Newsfeed: LinkedIn SlideShare Ads | Social Ad Disclosures - Posted March 13, 2013
 Click here to receive the Morning Social Media Newsfeed via email. ... [SocialTimes.com]

Social Media Newsfeed: New Facebook News Feed | Pandora CEO Quits - Posted March 8, 2013
 Click here to receive the Morning Social Media Newsfeed via email. ... [SocialTimes.com]

Facebook Will Let Users Know If Ads Were Targeted - Posted February 4, 2013
As Facebook rolls out more and more advertising options, the backlash from users about ad targeting has grown. Facebook aims to solve that, ... [AllFacebook]

Path Charged With Additional Privacy Leak - Posted February 1, 2013
Path, a mobile-only social network that bills itself as a more private alternative to Facebook, is facing new allegations that it breaches user privacy on the same day that it ... [SocialTimes.com]

Path to Pay $800,000 Fine for Unlawful Collection of User Data - Posted February 1, 2013
The owners of the mobile social network Path have settled with the Federal Trade Commission over charges that the company had collected personal information from its users, some of whom are minors, without the users' knowled... [SocialTimes.com]

America's Most Misleading Product Claims - Posted January 28, 2013
We recently told you about the FTC's crackdown on POM's "wonderful" health claims. But POM is by no means the only player in the how-... [PRNewser]

BOOK REVIEW: 'Facebook Nation: Total Information Awareness' Is A Must - Posted January 15, 2013
Newton Lee's book, Facebook ... [AllFacebook]

EU Will Take Tougher Stance Than U.S. on Google Search Results - Posted January 10, 2013
[caption id="attachment_115750" align="alignleft" width="300"] Jojje / Shutterstock.com[/caption]While the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's investigation into how Google serves up search results went out ... [SocialTimes.com]

FTC Announces Settlement With Google (Updated) - Posted January 3, 2013
The Federal Trade Commission has settled its investigation of Google for anti-competitive practices, closing its probe into search bias without a complaint while forcing the company to change its practices related to licensing patented mobile technolog... [AllFacebook]

FTC Announces Settlement With Google (Updated) - Posted January 3, 2013
The Federal Trade Commission has settled its investigation of Google for anti-competitive practices, closing its probe into search bias without a complaint while forcing the company to change its practices related to licensing patented mobile technolog... [SocialTimes.com]

FTC Strengthens Privacy Protections for Kids Using Mobile Apps - Posted December 19, 2012
[caption id="attachment_113997" align="alignleft" width="199"] chuckstock / Shutterstock.com[/caption]The Federal Trade Commission announced today it would modify existing rules governing how digital media companies ... [SocialTimes.com]

FTC Strengthens Privacy Protections for Kids Using Mobile Apps - Posted December 19, 2012
[caption id="attachment_113997" align="alignleft" width="199"] chuckstock / Shutterstock.com[/caption]The Federal Trade Commission announced today it would modify existing rules governing how digital media companies ... [AllFacebook]

Ads Can Now Be Targeted Toward Children Under 13 - Posted December 19, 2012
A change in the Child Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) means that children ... [AllFacebook]

FTC Inquires Into Data Brokers' Business Practices - Posted December 18, 2012
The Federal Trade Commission today furthered its inquiry into data brokers, or companies that develop and trade data about consumers, sending letters to several major firms today asking them to explain how they obtain consumer data and ho... [SocialTimes.com]

The State of Mobile Apps is in need of this Free eBook about Best Privacy Practices - Posted December 11, 2012
The internet erupted yesterday in reaction to the FTC's report citing a continued lack o... [AppNewser]

Little Progress on Privacy Practices of Children's Mobile Apps, FTC Study Finds - Posted December 10, 2012
Children's apps present privacy concerns by collecting data about users often without disclosing the practice to parents, according to a study released today by the Federal Trade Commission, which enforces the Children's Online Privacy Act and the ban on deceptive advertising. "Our study shows that kids' apps siphon an alarming amount... [SocialTimes.com]

FTC Proposes Ban on Ad Network's Use of History-Sniffing Cookies - Posted December 5, 2012
[caption id="attachment_112599" align="alignleft" width="300"] Lightspring / Shutterstock.com[/caption]The FTC has put forward a draft order requiring Epic Marketplace, Inc., to destroy all of the consumer data it obtained through history-sniffing cookies and barring the company from future... [AllFacebook]

FTC Proposes Ban on Ad Network's Use of History-Sniffing Cookies - Posted December 5, 2012
[caption id="attachment_112599" align="alignleft" width="300"] Lightspring / Shutterstock.com[/caption]The FTC has put forward a draft order requiring Epic Marketplace, Inc., to destroy all of the consumer data it obtained through history-sniffing cookies and barring the company from future... [SocialTimes.com]

Report: FTC Pressuring Google to Settle Antitrust Case This Week - Posted November 12, 2012
The Federal Trade Commission is pressing Google to make an offer to curtail its allegedly anti-competitive practices by the end of the week or face a lawsuit, Bloomberg reports. The FTC has long been mulling an ... [SocialTimes.com]

FTC Weighs In Facial Recognition Technology Privacy Protections - Posted October 22, 2012
The Federal Trade Commission today released guidelines for minimum privacy-sensitive use of facial recognition technology, which is increasingly used by social networks. The FTC recommends that companies notify consumers ... [SocialTimes.com]

Company Behind Acai Berry 'Headlines' Slapped With Big Fines - Posted October 19, 2012
The FTC has settled its case against Circa Direct and its owner Andrew Davidson for advertising acai berry products with fake news headlines such as, "Acai Berry Diet Exposed: Miracle Diet or Scam?" The FTC, which poli... [AllFacebook]

Facebook Seeks FTC Clarification On Possible Changes To COPPA - Posted October 1, 2012
Facebook submitted a filing to the ... [AllFacebook]

Report: 15 Percent Of Social Media Ratings, Reviews, Facebook Likes May Be Fake By 2014 - Posted September 17, 2012
As more consumers rely on social networks for recommendations and ... [AllFacebook]

California Gives Thumbs-Up To Facebook/Instagram Deal - Posted August 29, 2012
The long-awaited acquisition of Instagram by Facebook cleared another major hurdle on Wednesday. The ... [AllFacebook]

Developers Are Contacting The Federal Trade Commission About Twitter - Posted August 24, 2012
Developers are pretty ticked at Twitter about the pending API changes, so ticked in fact that they're contacting the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to complain. And we're not talking just one or two developers e... [AllTwitter]

Social Media Newsfeed: Facebook iOS App | Reddit Bus Tour | Twitter Developers - Posted August 24, 2012
 Click here to receive the Morning Social Media Newsfeed via email. ... [SocialTimes.com]

FTC Approves Facebook's Acquisition Of Instagram - Posted August 22, 2012
It's official: Photo-sharing application Instagram is now a Facebook entity. The Federal Trade Commission announced Wednesday that it ... [AllFacebook]

U.K. Office Of Fair Trading Approves Facebook-Instagram Deal - Posted August 14, 2012
Facebook's pending acquisition of photo-sharing application Instagram cleared one hu... [AllFacebook]

Facebook Verified Apps Weren't So Verified - Posted August 13, 2012
When the Federal Trade Commission annou... [AllFacebook]

FTC: Privacy Settlement With Facebook Finalized - Posted August 10, 2012
The privacy settlement between Facebook and the Federal Trade Commission, announced... [AllFacebook]

Social Media Newsfeed: Google Fined $22.5M | Facebook Ads | Foursquare Nearby Friends - Posted August 10, 2012
 Click here to receive the Morning Social Media Newsfeed via email. ... [SocialTimes.com]

FTC Explains Google Fine On Twitter - Posted August 9, 2012
In a move that speaks to Twitter's interactivity, the FTC fielded questions on Twitter today about the $22.5 million dollar fine it levied against Google. The chat on Twitter was much more interactive than the one that took place on Facebook. And we're guessing there wasn't a Google+ Han... [AllTwitter]

FTC Explains Google Fine On Twitter - Posted August 9, 2012
In a move that speaks to Twitter's interactivity, the FTC fielded questions on Twitter today about the $22.5 million dollar fine it levied against Google. The chat on Twitter was much more interactive than the one that took place on Facebook. And we're guessing there wasn't a Google+ Han... [10,000 Words]

Facebook Launches Phish@fb.com Email Address To Report Phishing - Posted August 9, 2012
Facebook made it easier for its users to report phishing... [AllFacebook]

U.K. Office Of Fair Trading Investigates Facebook's Acquisition Of Instagram - Posted June 25, 2012
Facebook's $1 billion acquisition of photo-sharing app In... [AllFacebook]

Facebook's Acquisition Of Instagram Will Likely Not Be Final By Its IPO Date - Posted May 11, 2012
Charging onward to the most gargantuan tech initial public offering of ... [AllFacebook]

Google Puts New Privacy Policy Into Effect, And Stage Is Set For More Personalized Products Even As Google Plus Pickup Is Slow - Posted March 1, 2012
ComScore this week issued a report that wasn't particularly flattering to Google Plus. It noted that users spent just 3.3 minutes on the social network in January compared to 7.5 hours for Facebook. Much discussion revolved around the fact that Google last month touted that the service had grown to 90... [semanticweb.com]

Key Milestones In Social Media Law [Infographic] - Posted January 19, 2012
It's the Wild West out here on the Internet. While individual social media companies face lawsuits over copyrights, privacy and antitrust violations, Washington debates bills like SOPA and PIPA to help redefine the law for the Digital Age. This infographic from the Socially Aware blog examines the key moments that... [SocialTimes.com]

Google Burying its Unpopular Buzz Social Network - Posted October 18, 2011
Google ended the unpopular Buzz social network, which was criticized last year for quite a few privacy breaches. According to nzherald.co.nz... [SocialTimes.com]

CRE Files FTC Petition Regarding Facebook, Twitter, Google - Posted September 6, 2011
Regulatory watchdog the Center for Regulatory Effectiveness is picking up the scent of Facebook, Twitter, and Google, filing a ... [SocialTimes.com]

FTC Gets Serious: Unless You Think a $250,000 Fine is Joke - Posted April 12, 2011
Guest blogger Tom Chernaik, CEO of CMP.LY, discusses why the Federal Trade Commission's recent fine on an affiliate marketer is a sign of things to come. Like many marketers these days, Nashville-based Legacy Learning Systems recruited "reviews" by affiliates to advertise its "Learn and Master Guitar" DVD... [SocialTimes.com]

Twitter Settles with FTC Privacy Complaint Over Hacked Celebrity Accounts - Posted March 14, 2011
Twitter has settled a case with the FTC over concerns that it could not offer the level of security it promised in its original privacy policy. The case stemmed from two separate attacks in 2009, resulting in the hacking of high profile Twitter accounts like Ashton Kutcher and Barack... [AllTwitter]

Firefox, Chrome Take On Tracking; Maybe Now It's Time To Look To Semantic Web Advertising Platforms - Posted January 27, 2011
Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome browsers this week unveiled responses to the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) call for a Do Not Track browser option. What's the impact on the online advertising community? Andy Ellenthal, CEO of semantic web advertising company Peer39... [AllTwitter]

Firefox, Chrome Take On Tracking; Maybe Now It's Time To Look To Semantic Web Advertising Platforms - Posted January 27, 2011
Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome browsers this week unveiled responses to the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) call for a Do Not Track browser option. What's the impact on the online advertising community? Andy Ellenthal, CEO of semantic web advertising company Peer39... [semanticweb.com]

Semantic Ad Targeting: FTC Do Not Track Talk May Increase Its Attractiveness, But Hopes Are Agency Proceeds With Caution - Posted December 15, 2010
There's a whole lot of privacy discussion going on at the federal level, with the Federal Trade Commission proposing a Do Not Track browser option. The idea is that consumers could limit cookies or other sniffers that open the door to tracking their browsing behavior for the purpose... [AllTwitter]

Groups Will Allow Consumers to Opt Out of Data Tracking - Posted December 3, 2010
In an effort to douse the heated discussion over online privacy, a number of tracking firms have formed the Open Data Partnership. The Partnership will allow consumers free access to review the info that's been gathered about them a... [PRNewser]

FTC Answers Questions About Privacy Report on Twitter - Posted December 2, 2010
In a bid to increase its transparency, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) answered questions about a new privacy report via Twitter yesterday. As this report pertains to online privacy, it's a fitting move to take questions on Twitter. We've got some of the FTC's responses to the privacy-... [AllTwitter]

FTC Report Suggests 'Do Not Track' Option - Posted December 1, 2010
And you thought "Do Not Call" was cool. Meet "Do Not Track." A Federal Trade Commission report today suggests allowing consumers to decide whether or not their data can be collected as they move around online. It looks at the framework necessa... [PRNewser]

The Ticker: Gawker Media; Marketing on Twitter; FTC's crackdown; Twitter's ads - Posted October 11, 2010
Mediaweek: Digital Hotlist 2010; Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare bring the heat New Yorker: Nick Denton, Gawker Media, and Journalism's future Flowtown: ... [PRNewser]

FTC Seeks Public Comment on Revised Green Guides - Posted October 6, 2010
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has offered its proposed revisions to the ... [PRNewser]

Did The FTC Just Open Up Even More of a Slippery Slope on Disclosure? - Posted November 25, 2009
As our brother blog AgencySpy reports, it seems there is even more muddiness around the FTC's "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising," which were ... [PRNewser]

FTC to Bloggers: Disclose Payments or Face $11k Fine - Posted October 5, 2009
Bloggers: have you accepted a product freebie from a brand? Are you sending out "sponsored tweets" as part of a promotion? PR and marketing pros: are you working on a "word of mouth" campaign of your own? If so, you'll want to read carefully updates announced today by the FTC to... [PRNewser]