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Hearing on Consumer Online Privacy: Key Takeaways and Statistics

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee held a hearing on consumer online privacy, with witnesses from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and major technology companies. The hearing focused on the issues of consumer control over personal information, transparency, and security in the online world.

Key Takeaways:

  • The FCC has formed a joint task force with the FTC to develop coordinated approaches to protecting online privacy, including education and transparency initiatives.
  • The FTC has brought over 64 actions alleging violations of the Do Not Call rule, and has enforced the requirements of the registry, resulting in significant relief for consumers.
  • The FCC has been active in enforcing consumer privacy rules, taking action against nearly 300 companies that failed to certify their compliance with privacy rules, and has imposed fines and penalties on telecommunications carriers.
  • The national broadband plan emphasizes the importance of promoting both broadband and consumer privacy, and recognizes that uncertainties in the regulatory framework need to be resolved to promote the growth of the Internet.
  • The FTC has established principles to guide self-regulatory efforts in the area of behavioral advertising, and has issued reports to encourage self-regulation on privacy issues.
  • The FCC has launched a new online consumer help center to provide resources and information to consumers on privacy issues, and has initiated an inquiry on the merits of establishing a certification program for cyber security standards and best practices.

Statistics:

  • 200 million: The number of telephone numbers on the Do Not Call registry.
  • 64: The number of actions alleging violations of the Do Not Call rule brought by the FTC.
  • $1 million: The amount that Rite Aid agreed to pay to resolve HHS allegations that it violated HIPAA.
  • 20 years: The duration of the requirement for Rite Aid to maintain reasonable data security and independent security audits.

Sources:

  • FTC Press Room: "FTC Reports on Recent Actions to Safeguard Consumers' Wireline and Wireless Telephone Numbers" (March 2010)
  • FCC National Broadband Plan (2010)
  • Federal News Service: Hearing on Consumer Online Privacy (July 27, 2010)
  • Federal Trade Commission: "Do Not Call Registry" (accessed July 2010)
  • Federal Communications Commission: "Online Privacy and Security" (accessed July 2010)

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