FTC Gives Final Approval to Modify FTC’s 2012 Privacy Order with Facebook with Provisions from 2019 Settlement

In response to the federal court’s recent action, the Federal Trade Commission has formally approved amendments to its 2012 privacy order with Facebook to include the provisions that were incorporated in the settlement the Commission announced with the social network platform in July 2019.

The FTC in July 2019 announced a record-breaking $5 billion settlement with Facebook related to allegations that the company violated its 2012 FTC privacy order by deceiving users about their ability to control the privacy of their personal information. In addition to the historic monetary penalty, the 2019 settlement includes unprecedented new restrictions on Facebook’s business operations and creates multiple channels of compliance. The order requires Facebook to restructure its approach to privacy from the corporate board-level down. The order further establishes strong new mechanisms to ensure that Facebook executives are accountable for the decisions they make about privacy, and that those decisions are subject to meaningful oversight.

Pursuant to the 2019 settlement, the FTC could not amend its 2012 administrative order with Facebook with the updated consumer protections until the federal court entered its order. Judge Timothy J. Kelly entered the order on April 23, 2020. In response, FTC Chairman Joe Simons issued a statement last week on the court’s approval.

The Commission voted 3-2 to modify the 2012 Facebook order with the updated provisions included in the 2019 settlement. Commissioners Rohit Chopra and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter dissented.

The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition, and protect and educate consumers. You can learn more about consumer topics and file a consumer complaint online or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357). Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, read our blogs, and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.

IR Press

Share
Published by
IR Press

Recent Posts

Treasury Issues Final Rule Expanding CFIUS Coverage of Real Estate Transactions Around More Than 60 Military Installations

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury), as Chair of the Committee…

4 days ago

U.S. Department of the Treasury’s CDFI Fund and Federal Housing Finance Agency Collaborate to Bolster CDFI Access to Capital

WASHINGTON—Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) and…

4 days ago

Report on U.S. Portfolio Holdings of Foreign Securities at Year-End 2023

Washington – The findings from the annual survey of U.S. portfolio holdings of foreign securities…

5 days ago

READOUT: U.S. Department of the Treasury Hosts Roundtable Discussion on the Financial Sector’s Response to Recent Hurricanes

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Treasury hosted a roundtable on October 30 with…

5 days ago

READOUT: Sixth Meeting of the Financial Working Group Between the United States and the People’s Republic of China

WASHINGTON – The United States and the People’s Republic of China held the sixth meeting…

5 days ago

Treasury Sanctions Key Members of La Linea, a Group Involved in Trafficking Fentanyl into the United States

WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned…

5 days ago