Online opinions – and not just from celebrities – are big business. Consumer reviews can be highly influential in convincing other shoppers to buy a product. In fact, the founder and CEO of Sunday Riley Modern Skincare LLC (Sunday Riley Skincare) was so convinced about the power of those starred reviews on cosmetics chain Sephora’s
Tracy Marshall
Tracy Marshall counsels international and domestic for-profit and non-profit clients on a range of privacy, data security, advertising, promotions, and intellectual property matters. She also advises on general corporate and transactional matters.
Tracy assists clients with compliance and advocates on their behalf. She is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) through the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) and helps clients implement privacy, data security, and security breach response programs, develop internal and public-facing privacy policies to comply with applicable laws, respond to cyber and data security incidents, and manage relationships with service providers and third parties. Tracy advises on structuring and conducting email and text messaging campaigns, sweepstakes, contests, and other promotions, and she helps clients protect and enforce their intellectual property rights.
In addition, Tracy counsels clients on corporate matters and assists with structuring and negotiating a variety of transactions, including licensing, marketing, and outsourcing arrangements.
Tracy is frequently invited to speak at privacy, data security, telecommunications, and advertising conferences and is a contributor to Keller and Heckman’s Consumer Protection Connection blog and Beyond Telecom Law Blog.
FTC Finalizes Settlement with Service Provider over Alleged Privacy Shield Misrepresentations
The EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework, which provided a mechanism to legally transfer personal information from the EU to the United States, was invalidated on July 16, 2020, but the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has made it clear that companies that claimed to be participants must still make good on their word. A case in point…
FTC Targets Negative Option Schemes in Two Multimillion Dollar Settlements
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently announced settlements with two online companies for allegedly misleading customers about automatic membership renewal costs. On September 2, 2020, the FTC announced that Age of Learning, Inc., d/b/a ABCmouse, will pay $10 million to settle charges that the company enrolled thousands of consumers in a negative option scheme to…
FTC Staff Perspective Paper Offers Key Takeaways on Loot Box Workshop
More than 160 million Americans play video games. Originally designed as single-use purchases for consoles or computers, video games are now downloadable, making them more accessible to consumers than ever. One important development for the video game industry has been the creation of “micro purchases” – in-game transactions such as “loot boxes” that players can…
Washington State AG Settles with Online Platform Over Alleged COPPA Violations
Protecting the online privacy of children by enforcing the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) continues to be of paramount importance to federal and state regulators. In addition to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), several state attorneys general (AGs) have brought COPPA actions recently, including the New Mexico and California AGs, and, most notably, the…
FTC COPPA Settlement with App Developer Highlights Penalty Policy Considerations
A recent Federal Trade Commission (FTC) settlement with an online game company that allegedly tracked children illegally highlights some important questions, namely, how should the FTC assess the penalties it imposes for privacy violations, and what is the most effective way to both deter and punish companies for such violations?
The complaint in question was…
California AG Releases Long-Awaited CCPA Final Regulations
On June 1, 2020, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra submitted the final package of regulations implementing the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) to the California Office of Administrative Law (OAL) for approval. The regulations reflect key CCPA compliance obligations for businesses, including specific actions that must be taken to allow consumers to exercise their rights…
FTC Settles with Digital Game Company Over Allegedly False COPPA Safe Harbor Claims
One of the first formal privacy safe harbor programs was created under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Put simply, businesses are deemed in compliance with COPPA if they belong to an FTC-approved COPPA safe harbor program and follow the safe harbor program’s guidelines. But the FTC takes seriously any false claim about participation…
Federal Agencies Continue Crackdown on Bogus COVID-19 Claims
The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted regulatory agencies to take swift action against companies that falsely advertise their products as treatments for the virus. As we previously reported, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued joint warning letters to seven companies in March for advertising and selling products or services…
Smart Lock Manufacturer Settles Alleged False Security Claims with FTC
Canadian company Tapplock, Inc. sells smart locks to the U.S. market that the company advertised as “sturdy,” “secure,” and even “unbreakable.” Tapplock’s assurances that the locks were strengthened with “double-layered lock design” and made with “anti-shim and anti-pry technologies” could be quite an enticement for consumers looking for top-of-the-line connected home security. There was a…