New chief compliance officer, same Facebook
It isn’t surprising to see Facebook think it doesn’t have an ethical obligation to alert users to its latest data leak, writes Kyle Brasseur, but it is disappointing knowing the company now has a chief compliance officer in place.
CPE Webcast: Mastering knowing your data and establishing a defensible data inventory
In today’s data drive world, legal and compliance professionals must know their organization’s data, meaning the legal department must clearly understand how to quickly find and access data requested for litigation, audits and investigations, and how to protect data in compliance with privacy laws.
Facebook facing 10th GDPR probe over data leak
The Irish Data Protection Commission has launched an inquiry into Facebook over concerns the social media giant may not have properly disclosed the full extent of its recent data leak.
Facebook’s new leak: Assessing its liability under the GDPR
Old personal data of more than 533 million Facebook users was recently made publicly available on a hacker forum. Could the social media giant face a new investigation under the GDPR in response?
Irish DPC seeking answers on Facebook breach
The Irish Data Protection Commission has reached out to Facebook seeking to determine whether the social media giant’s weekend data breach should receive scrutiny under the General Data Protection Regulation.
Italian DPA fines Fastweb $5.3M under GDPR for aggressive telemarketing
The Italian Data Protection Authority announced a fine of €4.5 million (U.S. $5.3 million) against telecommunications company Fastweb for misusing customer data for telemarketing purposes.
Booking.com fined $557K under GDPR for reporting data breach late
Online reservation Website Booking.com has been fined €475,000 (U.S. $557,000) by the Dutch Data Protection Authority for reporting a data breach 22 days later than the 72 hours required under the GDPR.
Local laws proving to be roadblocks for GDPR harmonization
Recent cases in Germany, France, and Austria underscore the difficulty of getting EU members on the same page regarding GDPR enforcement—particularly when other local laws take priority.
Popular Clubhouse app being probed for GDPR violations
France’s data privacy watchdog adds to a growing list of regulators that have launched investigations into Alpha Exploration, the publisher of the Clubhouse application, regarding measures it has taken (or not taken) to comply with the GDPR.
Board members named to California’s first-in-the-nation data privacy board
The California Privacy Protection Agency, tasked with enforcing the state’s groundbreaking data privacy laws, now has a five-member board of directors.
Vodafone Spain fined record $9.72M for data protection failures
Vodafone Spain has been fined €8.15 million (U.S. $9.72 million) for aggressive telemarketing tactics and other data protection failures under the GDPR. The penalty is the highest the Spanish Data Protection Agency has handed out.
GDPR fines by industry: Telecoms far outpace Big Tech
Since the GDPR came into force in 2018, Big Tech firms have not been on the receiving end of fines as frequently as expected. Meanwhile, other industries have shown to be more prone to data privacy violations, namely telecommunications.
Ask a CCO: Are you in favor of federal data privacy legislation?
It’s a clean sweep: All five CCOs we spoke with are in favor of U.S. federal data privacy legislation. Read on for the reasoning behind their answers.
‘An invaluable asset’: Participants praise opportunity for feedback via GDPR sandboxes
Regulatory sandboxes launched by EU data protection authorities provide firms the opportunity to collaborate and make use of the regulator’s expertise to reduce GDPR compliance risks.
GDPR dealt blow as German court drops $17.2M Deutsche Wohnen fine
A €14.5 million (U.S. $17.2 million) fine against Deutsche Wohnen has been dropped after a German court found under German law the company could not be held responsible for violating the GDPR unless blame could be attached to a specific individual or executive.
Ask a CCO: How has your company prioritized data privacy compliance?
Five senior compliance practitioners tell us how their companies have reacted to recent privacy legislation like the GDPR, CCPA, and other state regulations in the pipeline.
Video: Google ad change a boon for privacy; red flags apparent in Greensill downfall
Aaron Nicodemus acknowledges Google’s decision to stop selling ads based on user browsing history as a good first step, while Kyle Brasseur laments apparent red flags ignored in the seemingly impending collapse of Greensill Capital.
More than a CCPA clone? Virginia passes nation’s second comprehensive privacy law
In what might be a sign of things to come for data privacy legislation nationwide, Virginia passed the country’s second comprehensive data privacy law. How does it stack up to its peer in California?
Special report: Compliance, infosec & battling cyber-threats
LifePoint Health’s VP for Compliance Program Operations/Chief Privacy Officer Ellen Hunt and VP/CISO Andy Heins share how they work ”hand in glove” to protect their company’s data from bad actors.
TikTok $92M settlement includes data privacy compliance training program
TikTok is seeking preliminary approval of a class-action settlement with terms that would require the video sharing platform to establish a $92 million settlement fund and create a new compliance framework, according to court documents.
Video: SEC on right path with climate disclosures; alleged privacy lapses at Amazon troubling
Aaron Nicodemus applauds the SEC for taking steps to clarify how companies should disclose economic risks posed by climate change, while Dave Lefort is critical of alleged lapses in data security at Amazon.
Ireland GDPR report: Big fines coming soon for Big Tech?
Ireland’s data regulator has 27 ongoing cross-border inquiries into Big Tech firms, according to its latest annual report. It expects several cases to be resolved in the coming year.
CW panel: Preparing for the return to the workplace—and the next pandemic
Experts at CW’s “Compliance Considerations for the New Workplace” virtual summit discuss striking the balance between complying with laws applicable to matters of health and safety while still respecting employee privacy in the return to the office and beyond.
EDPS opinion puts targeted advertising in crosshairs
The EU’s chief data regulator says planned regulations to oversee the tech sector should be tightened further to ban targeted advertising based on tracking online activity—an opinion that could prompt Big Tech and adtech firms to lobby hard against the changes.
Facebook fined $8.4M for data collection practices in Italy
Facebook has been fined €7 million (U.S. $8.4 million) by Italy’s antitrust regulator for failing to address issues related to its personal data collection practices.
Survey: Firms enhanced cyber-security in 2020, but not enough
Companies forced to pivot to remote work in a global health crisis spent the bulk of 2020 grappling with heightened cyber-security risks. A year later, compliance practitioners say their companies’ cyber-security postures are better for it—even in the wake of the stunning SolarWinds hack.
TikTok faces more backlash, now from EU consumer group
TikTok has come under the scrutiny of European consumer advocacy organization BEUC, which is urging authorities to put an end to the video sharing platform’s abuse of EU users’ rights—especially those of children.
The great privacy race? Apple, Facebook pitch data transparency
Apple and Facebook, two of the world’s most powerful companies, are jockeying over how transparent to be with their customers on whom they share users’ personal data with and what they do with it.
CPE Webcast: Adapting your compliance program for the next new normal
With the global workplace in a fractious state in 2020, many companies transitioned employees to working from home. This created new challenges for compliance leaders from providing clear data security guidance to reinforcing HR policies like harassment prevention for the remote work environment.
Video: Thumbs-down to all parties in GameStop madness
While Kyle Brasseur gives Data Privacy Day the shout-out it deserves, Dave Lefort explains why retail investors, the apps they use, and regulators all “Failed It” in the GameStop stock market craze.
Spain, Italy setting new standard for GDPR enforcement
While big fines against big companies make headlines, Spain and Italy have flown under the radar as two of the most frequent enforcers of the GDPR, instead primarily focusing on smaller penalties. Might other countries follow suit?
Norwegian DPA warns Grindr of $11.7M GDPR fine
Norway’s data privacy watchdog issued gay dating app Grindr with a notice of intention to fine it NOK 100 million (U.S. $11.7 million) for sharing personal data with third parties without users’ consent.
Spanish DPA fines CaixaBank record $7.3M under GDPR
Spain’s data protection authority recently fined CaixaBank €6 million (U.S. $7.3 million) for misuse of customer data, the largest GDPR fine the country has handed out.
Three best practices for handling GDPR and CCPA ‘right of access’ requests
A panel discussion on a recent Webcast analyzed common data subject access request compliance challenges, as well as leading practices designed to best comply with the EU’s GDPR and the CCPA in the United States.
Cyber-Risk Summit: 7 best practices for protecting employee health data
Experts at CW’s virtual Cyber-Risk and Data Privacy Summit explain the importance for companies to review and enhance their current data security compliance policies and procedures.
EU regulators beef up SCCs as temporary Privacy Shield alternative
The key data regulators that oversee the European Union’s strict privacy regulation agreed to a beefed up set of contractual terms to provide more clarity about the level of protection data transfers to countries outside the EU can enjoy.
British Airways breach could cost billions in landmark class-action push
British Airways faces the largest group claim ever made in U.K. legal history over a 2018 data breach that exposed the financial and personal details of more than 400,000 of its customers.
White paper: Managing compliance for a remote workforce
In 2020, companies are experiencing new dilemmas regarding compliance. With COVID-19, millions of workers have shifted from working in an office space — an employer-controlled environment — to working from home offices.
Video: Gensler a strong choice for SEC; Flo’s alleged privacy lapses inexcusable
Aaron Nicodemus explains why President-elect Joe Biden’s SEC chairman pick, Gary Gensler, is getting rave reviews, while Aly McDevitt criticizes the alleged privacy misdeeds of Flo Health that led to an FTC settlement.
CJEU opinion could further expose Big Tech under GDPR
Any European Union data protection authority should be allowed to pursue legal action against Big Tech firms over privacy issues, according to an opinion from the advocate general of the region’s top court.
German laptop retailer fined $12.7M under GDPR for employee surveillance
A German data regulator fined an online laptop and electronic goods retailer €10.4 million (U.S. $12.7 million) for video-monitoring employees for at least two years without legal basis.
Temper expectations on a U.S. federal privacy law in 2021
With the collapse of the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield comes an opportunity for the United States to address its data protection shortcomings. Just don’t expect a quick fix, as a litany of issues remain.
Report: Fines against financial institutions hit $10.4B in 2020
Financial institutions have been hit with $10.4 billion in global fines and penalties related to AML, KYC, data privacy, and MiFID regulations in 2020, according to a recent Fenergo report.
GDPR priorities for 2021: Twitter ruling stresses need for harmonization
European data protection authorities need to speed up their decision-making processes—especially with regard to cross-border complaints—before regulators lose patience and find legal means to mete out penalties under national laws instead of the GDPR.
CPE Webcast: Schrems II: The end of the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield
The invalidation of the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield has many U.S. companies wondering if they will ever be able to take possession of EU data again.
New Zealand’s new privacy law comes with a refreshing twist—it allows for apologies
New Zealand’s new data privacy law allows an apology to be made without admitting guilt, a provision that follows with the island’s non-traditional form of leadership as one that focuses on empathy and the well-being of the people.
Video: Twitter GDPR fine too little or just right?
Aaron Nicodemus and Dave Lefort debate whether the Irish Data Protection Commission’s €450,000 (U.S. $547,000) fine against Twitter under the GDPR is an appropriate figure or way too small for the social media company.
CPE Webcast: CCPA year in review
The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) went into effect on January 1, 2020, and is currently the most comprehensive consumer data privacy law in the United States.
FTC data requests could pave way to federal privacy law, experts say
FTC requests issued to nine social media and video streaming services for information about how they collect and use personal information could be a step toward the U.S. government enacting federal privacy legislation.
Twitter’s tiny $547K GDPR fine leaves many scratching their heads
Ireland’s first major decision against a Big Tech company under the GDPR has stirred controversy as the country’s data regulator hit Twitter with an underwhelming €450,000 (U.S. $547,000) fine for a 2018 data breach.