Legal Resources
Workshop on the Effects of Identity Theft on Older Americans
May 25, 2013National forum to explore how ID theft affects older Americans, including discussions of medical identity theft, tax- and government benefits-related ID theft, and the special issues facing consumers who live in assisted living or nursing homes
Mobile Privacy Disclosures: Building Trust Through Transparency
February 1, 2013FTC staff report recommending ways that key players in the mobile marketplace, including mobile platforms, developers, advertising networks, analytics companies, and trade associations, can better inform consumers about their data practices.
Facing Facts: Best Practices For Common Uses of Facial Recognition Technologies
October 21, 2012A staff report on protecting consumer privacy as companies use facial recognition technologies to create new products and services
In Short: Advertising & Privacy Disclosures in a Digital World
May 29, 2012Following up on the FTC's 2000 "Dot Com Disclosures" publication, a national workshop to consider the need for new guidance concerning effecting advertising and privacy disclosures in online and mobile environments
Protecting Consumer Privacy in an Era of Rapid Change: Recommendations for Businesses and Policymakers
March 25, 2012FTC report calling for privacy by design, simplified choices for businesses and consumers, and greater transparency about information collection and use
Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book for 2011
February 28, 2012Report listing the top consumer complaints received by the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Database in 2011
Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book January-December 2010
March 8, 2011Report analyzing consumer complaints received by the FTC in 2010, including a list of the Top 10 Consumer Complaints and complaint data by state and metropolitan area
Protecting Consumer Privacy in an Era of Rapid Change: A Proposed Framework for Businesses and Policymakers
December 1, 2010A preliminary staff report proposing a framework to balance the privacy interests of consumers with innovation that relies on consumer information to develop beneficial new products and services, including the implementation of a “Do Not Track” mechanism.
Exploring Privacy: A Roundtable Series
March 17, 2010A series of roundtables exploring the privacy challenges posed by technologies and business practices that collect and use consumer data. Discussion included how best to protect consumer privacy while supporting beneficial uses of the information and technological innovation.
Best Practices for Business: Protecting Personal Information and Fighting Fraud with the Red Flags Rule
April 29, 2009Series of workshops that focused on how businesses can better secure personal information, implement best practices for developing an appropriate data security program, and respond to data breaches and other privacy and security threats.
Beyond Voice: Mapping the Mobile Marketplace Report
April 1, 2009Report from May 2008 town hall meeting about issues arising in the mobile commerce marketplace.
Securing Personal Data in the Global Economy
March 16, 2009Conference hosted by the FTC in conjunction with APEC and OECD addressing how companies can manage personal data-security issues in a global information environment where data can be stored and accessed from multiple jurisdictions.
Security in Numbers: SSNs and ID Theft Report
December 17, 2008Workshop continued the work of the President's Identity Theft Task Force by exploring the uses of Social Security numbers in the private sector and the role of SSNs in identity theft.
Transatlantic RFID Workshop on Consumer Privacy and Data Security
September 23, 2008Workshop exploring emerging applications of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology and their implications for consumer protection policy.
President's Identity Theft Task Force Report
September 1, 2008Report documenting the Identity Theft Task Force’s efforts to implement recommendations of the Strategic Plan, which examined the nature and scope of identity theft and offered a far-reaching series of recommendations to reduce its incidence and impact.
Pay On The Go: Consumers and Contactless Payment
July 24, 2008Town Hall meeting exploring the growth of contactless payment systems and their implications for consumer protection policy. This meeting built on a 2006 hearing which examined technological and business developments expected to shape consumers' experiences over the next ten years.
Roundtable Discussion on Phishing Education: A Staff Report by the Federal Trade Commission
July 14, 2008Workshop focused on revitalizing consumer and business education on phishing, which uses deceptive spam that appears to be coming from legitimate, well-known sources to trick consumers into divulging sensitive or personal information.
Beyond Voice: Mapping the Mobile Marketplace
May 6, 2008Town Hall exploring the evolving mobile commerce (Mcommerce) marketplace and its implications for consumer protection policy. This meeting built on a 2006 hearing which examined technological and business developments expected to shape consumers' experiences over the next ten years.
Protecting Consumers In The Next Tech-ade Report
March 28, 2008Staff report highlighting the challenges of consumer protection in the face of emerging and evolving technologies in the next ten years.
Security in Numbers: SSNs and ID Theft
December 11, 2007Workshop continued the work of the President's Identity Theft Task Force by exploring the uses of Social Security numbers in the private sector and the role of SSNs in identity theft.