Privacy and Cybersecurity

On January 18, the FTC issued a consent order prohibiting a digital platform and data aggregator from selling or licensing precise consumer location data on the grounds that it did not obtain consumer consent before collecting and selling the data to advertisers.Continue Reading FTC Cracks Down on Data Aggregator, Bans Sale of Precise Consumer Location Data

On October 27, the FTC has approved an amendment to the Safeguards Rule that would require non-banking institutions to report certain data breaches and other security events to the agency. The amendment requires financial institutions to notify the FTC as soon as possible, and no later than 30 days after discovery, of a security breach involving the information of at least 500 consumers. Such an event requires notification if unencrypted customer information has been acquired without the authorization of the individual to which the information pertains. The notice to the FTC will need to include certain information about the event, including:Continue Reading FTC Amends Safeguards Rule, Requires Non-Banks to Report Data Security Breaches

On August 15, CFPB Director Rohit Chopra announced plans for new CFPB rules that would strictly limit the types of consumer data that can be sold by businesses and ensure that data brokers comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”). The announcement came during a White House roundtable event focused on protecting individuals’ data privacy and as part of a broader federal crackdown on third-party data brokers. Director Chopra highlighted two proposals in particular that the CFPB is considering.Continue Reading CFPB Forecasts New Rule Cracking Down on Consumer Data Sales

Financial services companies beware: the new state privacy laws exemption are not uniform. To recap, there are privacy laws in 12 states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Montana, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. (Delaware’s law is pending the governor’s signature.)Continue Reading State Privacy Law Roundup: What Financial Services Entities Need to Know

On June 20, the CFPB published a blog discussing its response to public concerns about workers’ privacy and the risks associated with automated workplace surveillance technology. Automated workplace surveillance technology are used by many employers according to the CFPB.Continue Reading CFPB Warns of Privacy Risks Arising from Automated Workplace Surveillance Technology

The FTC’s Safeguards Rule compliance deadline is right around the corner – June 9. The Safeguards Rule requires non-banking financial institutions to develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive security program to keep their customers’ information safe (we discussed the Safeguards Rule in a previous blog post here).Continue Reading Reminder: The FTC “Safeguards Rule” Compliance Date is June 9

On April 4, CFPB Director Rohit Chopra delivered remarks at the International Association of Privacy Professionals’ Global Policy Summit on the importance of reigning in repeat violators of consumer finance and privacy laws. According to the Director, the CFPB is to enhance penalties against repeat offenders of consumer protection laws. Such penalties could involve a broader range of agency remedies, including naming executives in enforcement actions and placing meaningful limitations on future business practices, in addition to simple fines.Continue Reading CFPB Director Elevates Priorities for Data Privacy & Repeat Offenders

On January 12, the CFPB released a report that identified an uptick in identity theft reported by servicemembers. The report found that military consumers (defined as active duty servicemembers, veterans, and military family members) reported almost 50,000 cases of identity theft to the FTC in 2021. Additionally, military consumer complaints to the CFPB for debts resulting from identity theft increased from about 200 in 2014 to more than 1,000 in 2022.Continue Reading CFPB Report: ID Theft Among Servicemembers Increasing

Recently, the CFPB released an outline of proposed measures related to the Bureau’s Dodd-Frank Section 1033 rulemaking efforts that would allow consumers the rights over their personal financial data. The outline discusses proposed regulations that would require covered data providers to make consumer financial data available directly to a consumer and to any third parties authorized by the consumer. Under these proposed regulations, consumers would be able to easily switch financial providers and transfer their account history to a new provider. In a high-level summary of the proposed regulations, the CFPB discusses the regulatory provisions it is considering proposing, including the following:
Continue Reading CFPB Issues Proposed Rulemaking on Data Access and Portability

The FTC recently published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking to discuss harms associated with the collection, processing, and selling of personal data. The FTC is inviting public comments on whether it should implement new rules on how companies:
Continue Reading FTC Signals Focus on Increasing Protections Around Personal Data