Need To Know | Center for Digital Democracy

The Google Fitbit Deal: Hazardous to Competition, Privacy, and the Future of Our Health

By: Jeff Chester | Feb 7 2020

Google’s (i.e., Alphabet, Inc.) proposed acquisition of Fitbit, a leading health wearable device company, is just one more piece illustrating how the company is actively engaged in shaping the future of public health.
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Groups Praise Sen. Markey and Google for Ensuring Children on YouTube Receive Key Safeguards

Dec 18 2019

Contact:

Jeff Chester, CDD (jeff@democraticmedia.org; 202-494-7100)

David Monahan, CCFC (david@commercialfreechildhood.org; 617-896-9397)

Groups Praise Sen. Markey and Google

for Ensuring Children on YouTube Receive Key Safeguards
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Statements by CDD, CCFC, AAP, and IPR on comments filed in response to the Federal Trade Commission’s review of COPPA

Dec 12 2019

Washington, December 11, 2019
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Leading child advocacy, health, and privacy groups call on FTC to Investigate Children’s Digital Media Marketplace Before Proposing any Changes to Privacy Protections for Children

By: Jeff Chester | Dec 5 2019

Sub-title

Threats to young people from digital marketing and data collection must be analyzed to ensure meaningful safeguards under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
EMBARGOED UNTIL DECEMBER 5, 2019 AT 12:01 AM

Contact:

Jeffrey Chester, CDD, jeff@democraticmedia.org, (202) 494-7100

Josh Golin, CCFC, josh@commercialfreechildhood.org; 617-896-9369

Leading child advocacy, health, and privacy groups call on FTC to Investigate Children’s Digital Media Marketplace Before Proposing any Changes to Privacy Protections for Children
Authors

Jeff Chester
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Why it’s Google that deserves the anger of YouTubers

Nov 27 2019

In the aftermath of Google’s settlement with the FTC over its COPPA violations, some independent content producers on YouTube have expressed unhappiness with the decision. They are unclear how to comply with COPPA, and believe their revenue will diminish considerably.
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Grading Digital Privacy Proposals in Congress

Nov 21 2019

Sub-title

Which digital privacy proposals in Congress make the grade?
Subject: Which digital privacy proposals in Congress make the grade?

Nov. 21, 2019

Contact: David Rosen, drosen@citizen.org, (202) 588-7742

Susan Grant, sgrant@consumerfed.org, (202) 387-6121

Caitriona Fitzgerald, fitzgerald@epic.org, (617) 945-8409

Katharina Kopp, kkopp@democraticmedia.org, (202) 836-4621
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Take Action to Protect the Privacy of Children Now

Nov 20 2019

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Big Tech companies are lobbying to undermine the only federal online privacy law in the US – one which protects children--and we need your help to stop them. Along with the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC), we ask for your help to urge the Federal Trade Commission to strengthen—not weaken—the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Please sign this petition because your voice is essential to a future where children’s privacy is protected from marketers and others.
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Center for Digital Democracy and Eight Other Public Interest Groups Demand FTC Block Google’s Fitbit Acquisition

Nov 13 2019

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FTC complaints filed by Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood and Center for Digital Democracy lead to major changes for kids on YouTube

Oct 8 2019

Most parents can tell you the most popular website for kids is YouTube. But for years, while Google made millions luring children to YouTube, vacuuming up their sensitive information, and using it to target them with ads, Google told the Big Lie: “YouTube is not for kids. It says so right in our terms of service.”

That has now changed, thanks to the advocacy of Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) and the Center for Digital Democracy (CDD) and the support of a coalition of advocacy groups.
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The FTC’s Google/YouTube decision on children's privacy & digital marketing brings new safeguards, opportunities—and questions

By: Jeff Chester | Sep 11 2019

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Sub-title

Key new COPPA related policies won as groups vow to hold Google, marketers, FTC accountable
I played a key role helping get the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) passed by Congress in 1998 (when I was executive director of the Center for Media Education). Since then, I have tried to ensure that the country’s only federal law addressing commercial privacy online was taken seriously.
Authors

Jeff Chester
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Advocates Who Filed the Privacy Complaint Against Google/YouTube Laud Improvements, But Say FTC Settlement Falls Far Short

Sep 4 2019

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Contact:

Jeff Chester, CDD (jeff@democraticmedia.org; 202-494-7100)

David Monahan, CCFC (david@commercialfreechildhood.org; 617-896-9397)

Advocates Who Filed the Privacy Complaint

Against Google/YouTube Laud Improvements, But Say

FTC Settlement Falls Far Short
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FTC Facebook decision must go beyond Cambridge Analytica--that's just was the tipping point

By: Jeff Chester | Jul 22 2019

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Sub-title

The FTC is an unindicted conspirator in any privacy case
For years, consumer and privacy advocates attempted to get the Federal Trade Commission to act responsibly when it came to ensuring that the digital giants treated the public fairly, including their privacy. Since the mid-1990's, when I first started working to press the commission to be more responsive to the threats to autonomy and fairness triggered by the unrelenting and stealth gathering of all of our personal information (often working with EPIC), I was confronted by an agency which was so cautious, it blinded itself to the problems. The agency has never been able to address the rol
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FTC must impose maximum fine and ensure Google’s YouTube business practices obey children’s privacy law, say groups

Jun 25 2019

Sub-title

Google’s unprecedented violation requires an unprecedented FTC response and a 20-year consent decree to ensure Alphabet Inc. acts responsibly when it comes to serving children and parents; Google executives should also be held accountable.

June 25, 2019
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Complaints filed Against Google, Inc. YouTube and Google Play, for Violating Children’s Privacy and Engaging in Deceptive Marketing Practices

Jun 22 2019

All Complaints filed by Institute for Public Representation on behalf of Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, the Center for Digital Democracy, and others

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Digital Marketing Causes Far-Reaching Harms and Violates the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

May 17 2019

In response to a call for submissions by the UN Committee on the Right of the Child on the topic of children’s rights in relation to the digital environment, CDD joins academics and advocates in submitting comments.
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Advocates Demand FTC Investigation of Echo Dot Kids Edition, Amazon violates COPPA in many ways, including keeping data that parents believe they deleted

May 9 2019

Contact:

Josh Golin, CCFC: josh@commercialfreechildhood.org; (617) 896-9369

Jeff Chester, CDD: jeff@democraticmedia.org; (202) 494-7100

Advocates Demand FTC Investigation of Echo Dot Kids Edition

Amazon violates COPPA in many ways,
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Privacy Rights Are Civil Rights

Feb 28 2019

Sub-title

Over 40 Civil Rights, Civil Liberties, and Consumer Groups Call on Congress to Address Data-Driven Discrimination
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Groups Call for New Privacy Agency to Replace FTC - Ensure Role for States' Protections

Jan 18 2019

Curbing Companies’ Bad Behavior Will Require Stronger Data Privacy Laws and a New Federal Data Privacy Agency

Federal Privacy Laws Are Antiquated and Need Updating; New Data Privacy Legislation Must Include Civil Rights Protections and Enhanced Punishments for Violations
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CDD’s Executive Director, Jeff Chester, on CBS 60 Minutes

Nov 15 2018

The law that lets Europeans take back their data from big tech companies, November 11, 1918, CBS 60 Minutes

Click to view video.

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CDD Calls on NTIA to Broaden the Scope of the Proposed Approach to Consumer Privacy - Privacy Self-Management Will Not Do It

By: Katharina Kopp | Nov 10 2018

CDD submits comments to The National Telecommunications and Information Administration On “Developing the Administration’s Approach to Consumer Privacy"

CDD argues that
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Highlights of CDD's work and important news stories!

The Google Fitbit Deal: Hazardous to Competition, Privacy, and the Future of Our Health

Groups Praise Sen. Markey and Google for Ensuring Children on YouTube Receive Key Safeguards

Statements by CDD, CCFC, AAP, and IPR on comments filed in response to the Federal Trade Commission’s review of COPPA

Leading child advocacy, health, and privacy groups call on FTC to Investigate Children’s Digital Media Marketplace Before Proposing any Changes to Privacy Protections for Children

Why it’s Google that deserves the anger of YouTubers

Grading Digital Privacy Proposals in Congress

Take Action to Protect the Privacy of Children Now

Center for Digital Democracy and Eight Other Public Interest Groups Demand FTC Block Google’s Fitbit Acquisition

FTC complaints filed by Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood and Center for Digital Democracy lead to major changes for kids on YouTube

The FTC’s Google/YouTube decision on children's privacy & digital marketing brings new safeguards, opportunities—and questions

Advocates Who Filed the Privacy Complaint Against Google/YouTube Laud Improvements, But Say FTC Settlement Falls Far Short

FTC Facebook decision must go beyond Cambridge Analytica--that's just was the tipping point

FTC must impose maximum fine and ensure Google’s YouTube business practices obey children’s privacy law, say groups

Complaints filed Against Google, Inc. YouTube and Google Play, for Violating Children’s Privacy and Engaging in Deceptive Marketing Practices

Digital Marketing Causes Far-Reaching Harms and Violates the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Advocates Demand FTC Investigation of Echo Dot Kids Edition, Amazon violates COPPA in many ways, including keeping data that parents believe they deleted

Privacy Rights Are Civil Rights

Groups Call for New Privacy Agency to Replace FTC - Ensure Role for States' Protections

CDD’s Executive Director, Jeff Chester, on CBS 60 Minutes

The law that lets Europeans take back their data from big tech companies, November 11, 1918, CBS 60 Minutes

CDD Calls on NTIA to Broaden the Scope of the Proposed Approach to Consumer Privacy - Privacy Self-Management Will Not Do It

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