Tag Archives: Federal Trade Commission
Google Being Investigated By The Government For Bypassing iOS Security Settings
Late last week, Google was only charged $25,000 for collecting personal information in the Google Street View car case. Now the FTC is investigating Google for bypassing security settings to store cookies on mobile Safari users. In the Google Street View case, Google claimed that they had no idea that data was being collected. This defense likely won’t work when it comes to storing cookies because any cookies that were stored would by default factor into their search algorithms. A decision could be made within 30 days.
FTC Subpoenas Apple Over Why Google Is Their Default Search Engine
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has subpoenaed Apple as part of their antitrust probe of Google. They are seeking information about why Apple has incorporated Google as the default search engine on the iPhone and iPad. The FTC is requesting for documents that includes agreements made between Google and Apple according to sources with Bloomberg. Microsoft believes that this deal is considered anticompetitive.
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Categories Apple Inc., Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Google, Microsoft Corporation
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Facebook and FTC Near Agreement On 2009 Privacy Complaint
Facebook and the Federal Trade Commission are nearing an agreement from a 2009 privacy complaint. The final approval from the FTC commissioners would require Facebook to let users opt in to changes in the way that information is shared rather than forcing them to opt out of changes that Facebook imposes on them.
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Categories Facebook, Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Marc Rotenberg
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Children’s App Company Fined $50,000 for Illegal Data Collection
W3 Innovations, the company behind Broken Thumbs Apps, has settled in a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit for illegal data collection, agreeing to pay a $50,000 fine. ArsTechnica reports that the company’s children’s apps collected more than 30,000 email addresses and the personal information of hundreds of app users. The data collection violates the FTC’s Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act Rule that requires parental consent for a company to collect or use children’s personal info.
FTC to Subpoena Google in an Antitrust Investigation
Sources for The Wall Street Journal have said that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission may subpoena Google in an antitrust investigation against the company. This move would follow other Google antitrust investigations in recent years, but previous investigations were mainly interested in Google’s mergers and acquisitions. The FTC’s new subpoenas will contribute to an investigation into whether Google has gained its web dominance fairly.
Categories Federal Trade Commission, Google
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U.S. Department Of Justice Wants Wireless Companies To Store User Information
The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) is calling for new laws that would require wireless phone providers to store and collect information about customers. Deputy assistant attorney general for the criminal division Jason Weinstein made the proposal at the U.S. Senate hearing that sprouted from concern over the way that Apple crowd-sources the collection WiFi and cell phone towers locations. Bud Tribble spoke at the meeting on behalf of Apple.
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U.S. Rep Ed Markey Asking FTC To Investigate Apple In-App Downloads
Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) requested the Federal Trade Commission to review the way that in-app purchases are marketed within Apple applications. Markey points to a Washington Post story in a letter to FTC Chairman Jon Liebowtiz that was published about how in-app purchases on the iPad, iPod, and iPhone games are being marketed. Kids end up purchasing a large quantity of in-app content on games such as Smurfs’ Village and Tap Zoo, which leads to a higher month’s bill. Children use their parents’ passwords to make changes to the games, sometimes withou even using iTunes passwords. Apple sometimes gives 15 minute windows for downloads so you don’t have to keep inputting your passwords. In the Washington Post story, a parent reported that their child Madison Kay bought $99 batches of Smurfberries in-app goods, which led to a total bill of $1,400. [Washington Post]
Categories Apple Inc., Ed Markey, Federal Trade Commission, Jon Liebowtiz
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Twitter Settles With The FTC On Security and Privacy Violation Charges
Twitter has made a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC believed that Twitter had “deceived consumers” by allowing hackers to get control over Twitter due to loose security.
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Categories David Vladeck, Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Twitter
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FTC Approves Google’s Acquisition of AdMob
Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) has been given the greenlight by the FTC to acquire AdMob, the company founded by Omar Hamoui. AdMob is a mobile advertising company that provides a platform and advertising inventory for iPhone and Android applications. “Throughout the FTC’s review process, it’s been clear that mobile advertising is growing rapidly. As mobile phone usage increases, growth in mobile advertising is only going to accelerate. This benefits mobile developers and publishers who will get better advertising solutions, marketers who will find new ways to reach consumers, and users who will get better ads and more free content,” stated Google VP of Product Management Susan Wojcicki. Apple’s acquisition of Quattro Wireless most likely helped Google’s case. [Google Blog]
Categories AdMob, Federal Trade Commission, Google, Omar Hamoui, Susan Wojcicki
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U.S. Antitrust Enforcers Examining Apple Due To Adobe Complaint
Adobe Systems Incorporated (NASDAQ:ADBE) and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has had a positive relationship with each other up until the iPhone was released. When Apple decided to release the iPhone and iPad, they decided to block Adobe Flash files from the Safari browser built in to the devices.
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