TRUSTe Blog

FTC urges app developers to “wake up”

Tony Berman Sr. Product Manager | TRUSTe The FTC today released a report highlighting the concerning fact very little information about the data collection or sharing practices is provided in apps targeted at children. According to the FTC, “right now, it is almost impossible to figure out which apps collect data and what they do with …

How many start-ups does it take to write a privacy policy?

Chris Babel CEO | TRUSTe Privacy breakdowns continue to pop up across a variety markets with the biggest headlines coming from two VC-backed mobile app start-ups, Path and Hipster. Both were called out by independent tech professionals for privacy violations stemming from the unauthorized access of user address books stored on their mobile phones, and both …

Google: Competing on Privacy

Saira Nayak Director of Policy | TRUSTe @sairanayak Last week, Google announced that they are consolidating over 60 different privacy policies for various products and services into a single policy that will inform users about how personal data is collected and used across Google’s entire platform. Their new policy goes into effect March 1, 2012. …

TRUSTe Starts 2012 With A Bang

Chris Babel CEO | TRUSTe Image Credit We started 2012 out with a bang, moving into new offices (stop by if you happen to be in the Moscone Center or Union Square area) and announcing our $15 million Series C funding led by Baseline Ventures and supported by existing investors Accel, DAG and Jafco. This investment …

The Need For A Flexible Compliance Strategy in Europe

Chris Babel CEO | TRUSTe The new EU privacy directive (a.k.a. the “Cookie Directive”) has more than a few executives concerned over how to comply and protect their brand in Europe. While there has been a lot of industry debate over compliance technologies and mechanisms – as well as the requirements of the Directive itself, brands …

Ads About Ads (and Privacy)

Matthew Shevach Director, Product Marketing | TRUSTe @matthewshevach The Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA), a self-regulatory body of the online advertising industry, has launched a new ad campaign and consumer facing website. The new campaign, titled ‘Your AdChoices’, is a public education campaign that will run across media channels with creative produced pro bono by the Salt …

What Companies Can Learn From FTC Privacy Cases in 2011

John Gamble Marketing Associate | TRUSTe @johnaddison Earlier this week the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a settlement with Facebook over charges that the company deceived consumers by changing privacy settings without first giving prominent notice and obtaining their consent. With this settlement the Commission completes the trifecta of taking on three of the largest online …

Best Practices for Using Cookies

Joanne Furtsch, CIPP, CIPP/C Director of Product Policy @privacygeek Websites today are rarely a single-party affair. On any given website consumers typically interact with a number of third parties who collect data about them, whether they realize it or not. When third parties collect consumer data through technologies that are not readily apparent to consumers, …

How Flash Cookies Left A Bad Taste In the FTC’s Mouth

John Gamble Marketing Associate | TRUSTe @johnaddison Image Credit Yesterday the Federal Trade Commission announced a settlement with ScanScout, an online video advertising network, over charges that the company deceived consumers about their ability to opt-out of online tracking activities. ScanScout’s privacy policy read: “You can opt out of receiving a cookie by changing your browser settings to prevent the …

5 Things Advertisers Need to Know About The New DAA Principles

John Gamble Marketing Associate | TRUSTe @johnaddison On Monday, the Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) released new principles amending its Self-Regulatory Program for Online Behavioral Advertising (OBA). This move comes on the heels of criticism from consumer interests groups and the FTC, who have taken issue with data collection activities that persist despite consumer opt-outs. These new …