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Google has agreed to change some business
practices to resolve FTC concerns that they could stifle competition for
products like smartphones, tablets, and gaming consoles. Under the settlement,
Google will honor promises to allow competitors to license certain essential
patents needed to make popular devices on “fair, reasonable and
non-discriminatory terms.” Otherwise, people could see higher prices, fewer
choices, and less innovation, the FTC says. Under a separate voluntary
commitment, Google is giving advertisers more flexibility in how they run their
online ad campaigns, and also has agreed not to take online content like star
ratings and user reviews from travel, shopping, and other websites to improve
its own search offerings. |
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Amazon, Leon Max, Macy’s, and
Sears have agreed to pay penalties totaling $1.26 million to settle charges they
labeled and advertised products as “bamboo” when the merchandise actually was made
of rayon. According to the FTC, the penalties reflect the amount of products
the retailers continued to sell after ignoring warning letters the FTC sent them
and other companies in 2010. While
so-called bamboo textiles often are promoted as environmentally friendly, the
process for manufacturing rayon — even when it is made from bamboo — is far from
“green.” Extracting
bamboo fibers is expensive and time-consuming, and textiles made just from
bamboo fiber don’t feel silky smooth, the FTC says. Read “Bamboo” Fabrics for more.
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To strengthen kids’ privacy protections and give
parents more control over their child’s information as technology changes, the
FTC has updated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule. Among other
things, the updates clarify that personal information — which can’t be knowingly
collected from kids under 13 without a parent’s permission — includes geolocation,
photographs, and videos. Effective July 2013, the changes also cover
identifiers like IP addresses and mobile device IDs that can recognize users over
time and across different sites and services. No changes to the requirement
that site operators must keep kids’ information
secure; in addition, they still can’t require more personal information than is
reasonably necessary for kids to take part in an activity. |
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The FTC has issued orders for nine data brokers to submit
information about how they collect and use your data. Data brokers get your personal information from
a variety of public and non-public sources and resell it to other companies. Despite
benefits like preventing fraud and helping companies better target their
products and services, concerns about the privacy implications of big data have been raised. The FTC will look at what data is collected,
where it’s collected from, what’s done with it, and the extent to which people can correct
their data or opt out of having it sold. The FTC has called on the industry to
improve the transparency of its practices.
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A group
behind mobile apps selling criminal background screening reports
have agreed to settle FTC charges that they operated as a consumer reporting
agency without following requirements of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) —
like ensuring that information was accurate and would be used only for legally
permissible purposes. Without FCRA’s safeguards, people’s reputations and
employment prospects could be harmed, the FTC says. According to the
complaint, Filiquarian Publishing LLC, Choice Level LLC, and their CEO said
people could use the apps to access hundreds of thousands of criminal records
and conduct searches on potential employees. An app that included
unlimited searches in a particular state or county could be downloaded for just
99 cents.
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“The changes Google
has agreed to make will ensure that consumers continue to reap the benefits of
competition in the online marketplace and in the market for innovative wireless
devices they enjoy. This was an incredibly thorough and careful investigation
by the Commission, and the outcome is a strong and enforceable set of
agreements.”
— Jon Leibowitz, FTC Chairman
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If
you’ve ever wanted to lose weight or keep colds and the flu at bay, you might
have tried Accelis, nanoSLIM, Cold MD, Germ MD, or
Allergy MD products — and you might be eligible for a refund. Iovate Health Sciences U.S.A. and two affiliated companies have agreed to pay $5.5
million to settle FTC charges they deceptively advertised what their supplements
could do. If you bought any of the products between January
2006 and July 2010, you have
until April 1st to apply for a
refund.
When you shop for
most home appliances, a yellow EnergyGuide
label
on a product tells you how much energy it uses compared to similar models. When
you shop for light bulbs, the Lighting Facts
label
on the package gives you key information to help you compare different bulbs. Now,
thanks to updates to the FTC’s Energy Labeling Rule, you’ll find images of the
labels online as well for products
distributed after July 15, 2013. For more on why these labels are worth a
look, go to ftc.gov/green.
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IN OTHER NEWS:
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Looking for a New Year’s resolution? Why not
resolve to update
your security software and protect your passwords: http://go.usa.gov/4cNe
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Thinking
about a new look for your home in the new year? Learn more about VOCs in paint: http://go.usa.gov/4cRx
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