On March 30, 2011, the FTC announced a proposed consent order regarding Google\u2019s BUZZ service.\u00a0 According the FTC, Google had engaged in deceptive practices regarding discrepancies between its privacy policy statements and its actual practices regarding BUZZ.<\/p>\n
Google\u2019s privacy policy stated in part:\u00a0 \u201cWhen you sign up for a particular service that requires registration, we ask you to provide personal information. If we use this information in a manner different than the purpose for which it was collected, then we will ask for your consent prior to such use.\u201d<\/p>\n When Google launched BUZZ, Google invited its Gmail users to sign-up with two options:<\/p>\n The FTC alleged that both of these options were deceptive. The \u201cSweet\u201d option was allegedly deceptive because users were not clearly informed that the identities of certain of their email recipients would be made public by default. The FTC claimed this was contrary to Google\u2019s promise to obtain consent for new information uses and also in violation of Google\u2019s requirements in its self-certified participation in the US-EU Safe Harbor program.<\/p>\n The \u201cNah\u201d option was allegedly deceptive because users were unwittingly enrolled in certain parts of BUZZ despite selecting \u201cNah\u201d.<\/p>\n The Game Changers<\/strong><\/p>\n As part of the proposed settlement, Google is required to implement a comprehensive privacy program with very specific mandated requirements and to undergo privacy audits over the next twenty years.\u00a0 This requirement is not new.\u00a0 The FTC has historically signaled its expectations through consent orders with similar requirements.<\/p>\n What\u2019s new, and certainly game changing, are the following.<\/p>\n Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n With the proposed BUZZ settlement, the FTC has aggressively raised the bar in terms of privacy requirements for all online businesses.\u00a0 In essence, the FTC settlements have created \u201ccommon law\u201d regarding privacy, and websites that fail to comply do so at their peril.<\/p>\n Expect more specific information regarding the game changers in the form of additional suits and settlements by the FTC in the near future.<\/p>\n By now it should be clear how important it is for you to be FTC compliant. But how can you do that without spending $7,500-$8,000 or more on Internet Attorneys?<\/p>\n Smart business owners around the world are doing it with the help of FTC Guardian.<\/p>\n FTC Guardian is a service that is 100% focused on helping to keep you get and stay FTC compliant and fully protected.\u00a0And right now, we are offering a free training to give you the knowledge, information, and guidance that you need to stay out of trouble with the Federal Trade Commission.<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"\/images\/button_banner-7TLM_Cheat_Sheet.png\")
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