December 10, 2024 at 12:18PM The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is distributing over $72 million in refunds related to Epic Games’ Fortnite for employing deceptive practices that led players to make unwanted purchases. **Meeting Takeaways:** 1. **FTC Action**: The Federal Trade Commission is taking action against Epic Games. 2. **Refund Distribution**: Over $72 million is … Read more
October 22, 2024 at 06:37PM A group of Democratic lawmakers has urged the US Department of Justice to prosecute tax preparation firms for illegally sharing taxpayer data with Meta and Google. They cite a Treasury Department investigation confirming these violations, which may lead to criminal penalties for the companies involved. Legal action status remains uncertain. … Read more
July 22, 2024 at 09:52AM Oracle has agreed to pay $115 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging misuse of user data. The settlement benefits 220 million people and commits Oracle to address privacy violations. This move follows Oracle’s decision to exit the advertising business, which declined to $300 million in revenue in fiscal … Read more
April 8, 2024 at 09:54AM Two influential lawmakers, Sen. Maria Cantwell and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers from Washington state, have outlined a bipartisan deal to enhance privacy protections for Americans’ personal data. The proposal includes defining privacy as a consumer right, imposing new rules on data collection, and creating a new bureau within the FTC … Read more
February 29, 2024 at 08:05AM Consumer groups in the EU are taking legal action over Meta’s approach to data protection laws, claiming that the company gives users a “fake choice” between paying or consenting to data collection. The complaints focus on Meta’s subscription model and alleged breaches of GDPR principles. Meta disputes the allegations, stating … Read more
February 22, 2024 at 11:55AM The FTC ordered Avast to pay $16.5 million and banned it from selling users’ web browsing data. The complaint alleges Avast harvested consumers’ data without consent and mislead them about privacy protection. Avast must obtain consent before selling browsing data and delete shared data. The company’s surveillance tactics compromised privacy … Read more
January 18, 2024 at 12:37PM Haier issued a takedown notice to a developer for creating Home Assistant integration plugins for its home appliances on GitHub. The developer received a legal threat demanding the removal of the tools citing unauthorized use and significant economic harm. The plugins, although open-source, may incorporate Haier’s intellectual property. Haier’s actions … Read more