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  • CDD asks Court to Require FTC Make Public Information on “Safe Harbor” Programs for COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act)

    By: Staff | May 26 2015

    The Center for Digital Democracy (CDD), in its ongoing efforts to monitor the Federal Trade Commission’s enforcement of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), has filed a motion in the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia challenging the FTC’s refusal to release important COPPA documentation. The case involves seven “safe harbor” programs, such as KidSAFE and TRUSTe, approved by the FTC to handle website compliance with COPPA regulations.

    Read more
  • Watch "Looking Inside The Black Box Society"

    By: Alyce Myatt | May 6 2015

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    Digital Data and Consumer Protection: Ensuring a Fair and Equitable Financial Marketplace.

    Author and Professor Frank Pasquale discusses his new book "The Black Box Society," on the growing use of secret algorithms to categorize consumers.

    A Project of US PIRG Education Fund & Center for Digital Democracy
     

    Read more
  • CDD urges Consumer Regulators at ICPEN 2015 to tackle Data Driven Digital Marketing

    By: Alyce Myatt | Apr 22 2015

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    Sub-title

    Must Address Privacy & Online Ad Practices

    CDD's executive director Jeff Chester called on regulators representing dozens of nations to address the role that today's data collection complex plays in consumer transactions and services.  Speaking at the 2015 annual meeting of the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN), Chester said that in order to protect consumes today's regulatory agencies--such as the FTC--must understand how data issues are integrally a part of consumer services, including in the financial, health, and retail marketplace.  A modified version of the presentation is attached, minus the vi

    Read more
  • Child and Consumer Advocates Urge Federal Trade Commission to Investigate and Bring Action Against Google for Excessive and Deceptive Advertising Directed at Children

    By: Jeff Chester | Apr 7 2015

    Washington, DC – Tuesday, April 7 – A coalition of prominent children’s and consumer advocacy groups filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) today requesting an investigation of Google, charging the company with unfair and deceptive practices in connection with its new YouTube Kids app.

    Read more
  • Obama Administration Consumer Privacy Bill Fails to Protect Consumers, Gives Greater Control of our Information to Data Companies

    By: Jeff Chester | Feb 27 2015

    Three years ago, President Obama promised that his administration would deliver a “Privacy Bill of Rights” to protect American consumers.
    Read more
  • Big Data Gets Bigger: Consumer and Privacy Groups Call on FTC to Play Greater Role in Data Mergers/ Investigation and Public Workshop Needed

    By: Jeff Chester | Feb 6 2015

     Washington, DC: The Center for Digital Democracy (CDD), along with U.S. PIRG, Consumer Watchdog, and Public Citizen, called on the Federal Trade Commission to launch an investigation into the impact on the American public of growing consolidation in consumer offline and online data sources and digital marketing applications. The groups also asked for the FTC to hold a public workshop focused on ensuring Americans receive 21st century safeguards protecting their privacy in online transactions, and a truly competitive marketplace.

    Read more
  • FTC Agrees with CDD, Rejects AgeCheq COPPA Scheme

    By: Jeff Chester | Jan 3 2015

    In December, CDD urged the FTC to reject the verifiable parental consent mechanism for COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protect Act) proposed by AgeCheq.  The comments are attached.  Ensuring meaningful parental consent so their child's data can be gathered and used requires a robust and effective system.  Parents need to understand precisely what data is collected and by what means; how it is to be used--now and in the future--as well as the business models and online marketing practices that can affect them.  CDD and its attorneys at Georgetown Law Center found a range of problems with Ag

    Read more
  • Bigger Data Broker Mergers as Oracle Swallows Datalogix, after Acquiring Bluekai/FTC must review deal to address privacy, competition.

    By: Jeff Chester | Dec 22 2014

    Statement of Jeff Chester, executive director, CDD

    Read more
  • Consumer, Privacy, Child Health Groups Challenge Federal Trade Commission’s Proposed Settlement with TRUSTe

    By: Jeff Chester | Dec 18 2014

     Consumer, Children’s, and Privacy Groups Challenge Federal Trade Commission’s Proposed Settlement

    with TRUSTe (True Ultimate Standards Everywhere, Inc.) As Too Lenient

    Stronger Sanctions Needed for TRUSTe’s Violation of the Public Trust

     Consumers—Especially Parents—Materially Harmed by Years of Deception

    Read more
  • Topps Company, Trading Card and Candy Company Charged with Violations of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA); Coalition of Groups Groups Urge FTC to Investigate and Bring Action

    By: Jeff Chester | Dec 9 2014

     Consumer, Child Health, and Privacy Groups Urge Federal Trade Commission to Investigate and Bring Action Against Topps for Violating Children’s Privacy Rights through its Child-directed Website Candymania.com and its #RockThatRock Contest

    Read more
  • CDD Asks FTC for Information on COPPA, Kids Privacy, Safe Harbors. Raises concerns on their effectiveness & operations

    By: Jeff Chester | Dec 2 2014

    For months, CDD has been in contact with the Federal Trade Commission over the actual efficacy of the so-called "Safe Harbors" programs established to address children's privacy thru the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).  We have major concerns about how these programs are structured, and whether they meaningfully ensure privacy of young people.  We have asked, via FOIA, for a detailed documentation on how the COPPA Safe Harbors operate.  The FTC has not--to date--provided the information parents and the public require.  CDD will ensure, however, that there is meaningful acc

    Read more
  • Public Citizen, Consumer Action, CDD Support FTC via Amicus in "Wyndham" case/Role of FTC vital to protect consumers in online era

    By: Jeff Chester | Nov 12 2014

    Through the terrfic work of Public Citizen, CDD submitted this Amicus brief today in what's called the Wyndham case.   Wyndham and its allies are challenging the much needed role of the FTC to protect Americans from data breaches and related online harms.  That they are afraid of having a consumer protection agency do its job says a great deal about them.  The brief is attached.

    Read more
  • FTC asked to review "Big Data" merger between Alliance Data/Conversant; Also address privacy, consumer data consolidation & expansion of tracking on public across devices

    By: Jeff Chester | Nov 5 2014

    [excerpt from attached letter]

    Dear Chairwoman Ramirez:

    Read more
  • U.S. PIRG Education Fund & CDD File Add'l Comments on Big Data at FTC: Urge Action to Rein in "Wild West" of Unfair & Discriminatory Practices

    By: Jeff Chester | Oct 29 2014

    U.S. PIRG Education Fund and the Center for Digital Democracy (CDD) respectfully submit these additional comments to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). A set of regulatory and other safeguards is urgently required to ensure that contemporary “Big Data”-driven financial services are used in an equitable, transparent, and responsible manner. All Americans, especially those who confront daily challenges to their economic security, should be assured that their lives will be enhanced—not undermined—by the new digital-data financial services marketplace.

    Read more
  • U.S. PIRG and CDD urge Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to issue regulations and safeguards for mobile and digital financial services and privacy

    By: Jeff Chester | Sep 10 2014

    Apple iPhone/mobile payments era poses threats and opportunities for consumers,

    especially those financially at risk

    Read more
  • CDD Files Complaint on U.S./EU Safe Harbor for Data Privacy at FTC/ Filing Reveals Failure of U.S. Agreement to Protect European Privacy

    By: Jeff Chester | Aug 14 2014

    Washington, DC: The key framework that is supposed to protect EU citizens’ privacy when their data is collected by U.S. companies—known as the U.S.-EU Safe Harbor—is failing to provide them the safeguards that were promised, according to a complaint filed today by a leading U.S. consumer privacy group—the Center for Digital Democracy (CDD). The complaint, filed at the U.S.

    Read more
  • CDD Statement on FTC legal action against Amazon's unfair practices regarding kids, apps and purchasing

    By: Jeff Chester | Jul 10 2014

    "Amazon’s policies of making it simple for children to accidentally spend hundreds of dollars in a “kids” app, and its apparent refusal to refund the money to complaining parents, are irresponsible and unfair.   Today’s FTC action shows that consumers who have been charged for their kids unauthorized in-app purchases should not have to foot the bill.

    Read more
  • CDD FOIA's first annual reports on COPPA Kids Privacy Compliance by Safe Harbor Co's Submitted to FTC

    By: Jeff Chester | Jul 2 2014

    As part of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), the federal law protecting the digital privacy of kids 12 and under (and which empowers parents or other key caregivers to control the data collected from children), a so-called "Safe Harbor" system was created.  The theory being that companies joining a FTC approved Safe Harbor regime, which is commited to ensuring meaningful compliance with COPPA, is an effective way to have companies follow the law.  Yesterday was the deadline for Safe Harbor reports to be submitted to the FTC, and the first once since the new stronger safe

    Read more
  • 2013 Review of CDD Activities

    By: Jeff Chester | Apr 22 2014

    Read more
  • FTC told that iKeepSafe proposal on children's privacy will not ensure COPPA safeguards

    By: Jeff Chester | Apr 22 2014

    Statement from Hudson Kingston, CDD Legal Director:

    Read more

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Program Areas

  • DIGITAL HEALTH
  • DIGITAL CONSUMER
  • DIGITAL CITIZEN
  • DIGITAL YOUTH


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What Is The CDD


The Center for Digital Democracy (CDD) is recognized as one of the leading digital rights, consumer protection, and privacy organizations in the United States. For nearly two decades, CDD has been at the forefront of research, public education, and advocacy on behalf of citizens, consumers, communities, and youth.

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