05/10, 4:29pm
Investigation is described as 'routine' for value
The US Federal Trade Commission is launching a competition investigation regarding Facebook's recent $1 billion buyout of Instagram, say two sources for the Financial Times. The effort has allegedly already begun, with the FTC starting to collect information from "at least two" of Facebook's biggest competitors. The probe is described as routine for deals worth more than $68.2 million, but could delay the Instagram acquisition well past when Facebook told investors things would be completed.
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05/04, 6:19pm
Insider alleges Google may be fined millions by FTC
Google may be facing a fine potentially greater than $10 million for bypassing Safari privacy controls, according to an insider. The unnamed source, speaking to Bloomberg, alleged that Google is negotiating with the Federal Trade Commission over the actual value of the fine, which would be levied due to Google's violation of a consent degree signed last year.
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04/26, 6:25pm
FTC hints serious legal action enroute for Google
The Federal Trade Commission in a media briefing said it was hiring an external lawyer for its antitrust investigation into Google. Beth Wilkinson, best known for securing the death penalty for domestic bomber Tim McVeigh, would start as of Monday, the Mercury News said in its account of the meeting. FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz stressed that the agency hadn't decided on whether it would formally accuse Google of being anti-competitive.
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04/17, 11:25am
Commission may propose fine
The Federal Trade Commission is reportedly considering a fine in its purported investigation over Google's alleged circumvention of Safari privacy controls. Although the Commission has yet to formally disclose an investigation, unnamed sources have told MercuryNews the agency may demand a fine much higher than the $25,000 FCC penalty the search giant faces over the Street View Wi-Fi debacle.
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04/16, 1:30pm
HP's South Korean offices raided by the FTC
Korea's Fair Trade Commission raided HP's Seoul office on Friday as part of an investigation into the company's alleged price-fixing practices, The Korea Times reported. Employees were questioned and computer records as well as documents were ceased during the raid. Other companies that are said to be involved in the scheme include IBM and Oracle.
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04/10, 1:00pm
Cook gets first turn at D media event
Apple set a pair of firsts Tuesday after AllThingsD confirmed that Apple CEO Tim Cook would be the opening speaker for the D10 conference. It will represent both Cook's first guest spot at the annual Rancho Palos Verdes, California event as well as his first at a third-party event not intended for investors. The opening speaker role is rare in the industry and usually reserved for a highlighted and often extensive conversation.
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03/26, 12:40pm
FTC privacy guide goes live
As promised, the US Federal Trade Commission has posted its Internet privacy recommendations (below) as of Monday. The guidelines include its well-known Do Not Track recommendations, which would have companies honor browser settings to block ad cookies and other tracking, but would have a significant mobile component. Officials have suggested that mobile services improve and provide "short, meaningful disclosures" about privacy safeguards to make sure that users both see and understand their options.
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03/23, 5:30pm
FTC offers polished privacy recommendations
The FTC on Friday posted word that it would reveal the finished version of its online privacy framework on March 26. Details of what it would involve weren't mentioned, although it would likely derive some of its practices from recommended "do not track" policy that would let web visitors guarantee they weren't having their details collected as they browsed, whether through cookies or otherwise. Input over the past year and a half from both the public and companies should have influenced the results.
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03/16, 11:30am
EU and US worried Google broke privacy rules
Sources slipped word late Thursday that several American and European regulators were investigating Google over the practices that led to possibly breaching Safari privacy. France's Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertés, the US Federal Trade Commission, and the attorneys general of several states were said by the Wall Street Journal to be looking into whether Google had been deceptive in letting browser cookies through despite users' own settings. The CNIL would be bolting the checks on to its existing privacy investigations, while the FTC wanted to see if the behavior violated an earlier privacy agreement where Google said it would be straightforward in requests.
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03/13, 3:45pm
FTC wants to know how iOS search favors Google
The FTC's widening antitrust investigation of Google is now collecting information from Apple, insiders tipped on mid-Tuesday. A pair of Bloomberg sources understood the US agency to be subpoenaing Apple for the deals making Google the default search engine on iOS devices. It's presumed, though not certain, that concerns may exist Google is unfairly using its search dominance to cut out Microsoft's Bing and others from getting the pre-selected position.
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03/06, 1:30pm
FTC imposes restrictions on WD buy of Hitachi
The Federal Trade Commission has ruled that Western Digital sell its desktop hard drive manufacturing assets and some Intellectual Property rights to Toshiba, following its multi-billion purchase of Hitachi. The condition of the sale is needed, the FTC believed, because the original deal would have left WD as one of just two global desktop hard drive makers. The FTC ruled the deal as uncompetitive and feels its ruling will maintain "vigorous competition" in the worldwide market that should result in competitive prices and innovation in the field.
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03/05, 1:10am
Schumer worried apps have too much access
Senator Chuck Schumer on Sunday sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission with concerns over the reaches of Android and iOS apps. He was worried that their abilities to quietly take contact lists and photo libraries without direct knowledge were going "well beyond" what a regular user would agree to. Although he agreed that these were often breaching Apple and Google terms, he was concerned the companies weren't properly monitoring what was happening.
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02/29, 10:00pm
Microsoft gets antitrust attorney as own staffer
Microsoft on Wednesday hoped to turn Google's FTC troubles against it by hiring one of the FTC's senior lawyers, Randall Long, on Wednesday. The former deputy assistant lead for the Competition Bureau will manage Microsoft's regulatory relations. He will take the new position in late March and should be based out of Washington, DC.
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02/23, 11:00am
Proposed web privacy bill has seven stipulations
President Obama and his administration this week released a white paper (PDF) outlining proposed new online privacy rules. A big part of the regulations includes Do Not Track technology for behavior-based web advertising. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will oversee and enforce these rules.
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02/16, 5:50pm
FTC wants more transparency on child info
The FTC in a set of recommendations Thursday called on Android and iOS developers alike to provide more information to adults about what information an app might collect about their kids. Officials wanted simple, direct information to help parents either filter access or avoid apps entirely. It was "almost impossible" to know which apps were scraping data and more difficult still to know where that information was going, agency chairman Jon Leibowitz said.
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02/07, 8:30pm
May be violating consumer credit protection laws
The FTC has sent warnings to six developers of background checking mobile apps that their software may violate consumer credit protection law. The agency advised the six that their apps and the procedures surrounding them might not comply with the privacy protection provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Letters were sent to the three makers of the six apps, Evertify, InfoPay, and Intelligator.
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02/02, 6:30pm
Google fined in Google Maps antitrust case
France on Wednesday found that Google had allegedly abused the dominance of Google Maps to squeeze out regional competitors. The American company was asked to pay 500,000 euros ($657,350) in direct compensation as well as a 15,000-euro ($19,720) fine. Bottin Cartographes had accused Google of price dumping by using its search ad business to give away the map service for free where Bottin had to charge for the same service.
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01/30, 3:30pm
Markey intros cellphone privacy act draft bill
Congressman Ed Markey, known for criticizing Carrier IQ and the carriers that support it, has now proposed a draft bill (PDF) that aims to protect the privacy of cellphone users. The Mobile Device Privacy Act would order companies to publicly disclose whether they are using tracking software such as Carrier IQ, according to a Monday report found in the The Hill. It would also require them to reveal what information is collected and give users a consent option.
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01/14, 3:45am
FTC worried Google Plus may skew results
The FTC's investigation into Google has spread into search, a purported insider disclosed Friday night. Following thetech giant's plans this week to put Google+ updates into the search stream, the US regulator was said by Reuters to be probin whether the social network was unfairly pushing down Google's competitors through results. Twitter, among others, have accused Google of 'warping' results by making it hard for Twitter to get as much prominence.
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12/19, 7:25pm
Senate committee leads worry Google hurting rivals
Senate antitrust committee chairman Herb Kohl and supporter Mike Lee sent a formal letter (below) to the Federal Trade Commission backing an investigation of Google over its dominance of search. The Democrat and Republican together were worried enough about Google's lead in search following Senate hearings that they wanted a "thorough" look. They cited familiar arguments that Google might be abusing a dominant position to favor an increasing number of its own services in results on desktop and mobile, in many cases ousting challengers like Nextag or Yelp.
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12/14, 8:05pm
Carrier IQ says it asked FTC and FCC first
New government investigations into Carrier IQ are voluntary, the company claimed in a statement Wednesday. It had actively looked for meetings with the FCC and FTC to "educate" the two on how its cellphone diagnostic system works, the firm told AllThingsD. Congressman Ed Markey had asked for an investigation, but there hadn't been an active effort from the FTC that it knew of.
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12/14, 2:55pm
FCC, FTC involved in investigating privacy
The US government is now involved in investigating the presence of Carrier IQ software on cellphones, says the Washington Post. The newspaper mainly cites anonymous government officials, but also Carrier IQ spokeswoman Mira Woods. "We are complying with all investigations at this time as we have nothing to hide," she says. "We have been completely transparent through this process."
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11/29, 2:35pm
Facebook creates new privacy change positions
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg revealed on Tuesday that the social network has now outlined some of privacy changes ordered by the FTC. In the blog post, Zuckerberg also admits to a "bunch of mistakes" in the past, including Beacon and the transition of its privacy model. The agreement with the FCC means Facebook will give users the tools to control who can and cannot see their information.
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11/17, 8:50pm
Motorola sees 99pc vote for Google merger
Motorola's shareholders at a special meeting approved the company's acquisition by Google. The outcome, while expected, saw 99 percent of those at the meeting vote in favor. With guests at the meeting representing 74 percent of Motorola's total shares, it was clear there was "strong support" for the deal, CEO Sanjay Jha said.
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10/22, 11:45am
Google may help pay for but not buy Yahoo
Google might be backing a third-party buyout of Yahoo. A source talking to the Wall Street Journal had Google in early talks where it would help fund two or more private equity firms that would buy Yahoo's main business. No formal plan had been outlined, and it wasn't clear if it would go ahead.
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10/07, 12:45pm
Skype buyout by Microsoft approved by EU
Microsoft's $8.5 billion purchase of Skype has been approved on Friday by the European Commission. The software giant's largest-ever buy was announced in May and received the blessing of the US Federal Trade Commission back in June. The European Commission found that the two companies overlap in video communications and there are no competition concerns regarding the acquisition.
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09/27, 6:20pm
Online trackers reveal secrets, can't be erased
Two members of the US Congress have asked the FTC to investigate the use of "supercookies" by several online sites including MSN and Hulu. In a letter to FTC chairman, Jon Liebowitz, Republican Joe Barton and Democrat Ed Markey, expressed concern that the use of these tracking tools might be an unfair or deceptive act or practice under the Federal Trade Commission Act, which empowers the FTC.
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09/12, 4:40pm
One developer misrepresented scientific study
The US Federal Trade Commission has reached a settlement in the case of two mobile apps claiming to cure acne, reports say. In each instance, the apps pretended that colored light could be used to remove pimples and blemishes. The FTC has called the claims "baseless," and moreover accused the creators of one of the apps, AcneApp, of misusing a study on light-based acne therapy to claim scientific support for the app's concept. The AcneApp development team includes a dermatologist.
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09/07, 5:10pm
Lawsuit shows Google gives early edge to some
More documents just publicized in the Oracle lawsuit against Google could have far-reaching implications for Google's buyout of Motorola. Although largely confirming existing beliefs, it shows that Google's official strategy is to "give early access" to Android code to those who use the stock OS. Motorola's original Droid and Verizon were singled out by name.
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08/10, 5:15pm
FTC to focus on Android fairness and search
The FTC's investigation into Google is centering heavily on Android alongside the expected search, sources leaked Wednesday. A major thrust of the case has been gauging whether Google is preventing Android makers from using rival services. What these were wasn't divulged to WSJ informants.
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07/28, 4:25pm
Senate schedules Google antitrust hearing
The Senate's antitrust panel has scheduled the Google case hearing on September 21, the Senate Judiciary Committee announced on Thursday. The hearing is called "The Power of Google: Serving Consumers or Threatening Competition?" To date, the only known witness is Google Chairman Eric Schmidt.
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07/10, 1:45am
DOJ, FTC may look into joint bid on Nortel patents
An inside source revealed this weekend that US federal antitrust officials were looking into possible anticompetitive practices from Nortel's patent selloff. The Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission, or both are being asked to see if the "Rockstar" coalition formed by Apple, Microsoft, RIM, and others may have been unfairly trying to stifle Android. The Washington Post's associate didn't know who had prompted the investigation, although the American Antitrust Institute had called on one this week.
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06/30, 3:45pm
FTC talks to Twitter over possible abuse in apps
Developers confirmed reports that the FTC was investigating Twitter's policies towards app developers. The exact claims are unknown but are expected by SAI to revolve around its temporarily blocking UberMedia's apps and moves that have prevented rival ad services or have steered users away from visiting third-party hosting sites. Concerns might also exist over Twitter's attempt to discourage the creation of apps that are similar to the official titles and its tendency to buy out competition like Atebits' Tweetie or TweetDeck.
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06/28, 12:45pm
1plusV sues Google over search results
Google's legal woes have accelerated Tuesday as French search site network 1plusV has sued Google in Paris' Commercial court for the equivalent of $421 million. The lawsuit, billed as the largest of its kind in Europe, accuses Google of anti-competitive behavior. Google allegedly 'buried' 1plusV sites for four years in its search engine results and denied them a major source of revenue.
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06/24, 12:35pm
Google confirms FTC subpoena already sent
A Google SEC filing quietly submitted late Thursday has confirmed an FTC antitrust investigation. The brief notice said it had received a subpoena for a look into the company's behavior. Little was mentioned about the focus other than that it would touch on "search and advertising."
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06/23, 3:50pm
FTC approves Apple chance at buying Nortel patents
The FTC on Thursday gave the go-ahead to Apple participating in a Nortel patent auction. Confirming recent rumors, it determined that Apple's bids wouldn't pose a competitive threat. Concerns had existed that Apple might over-aggressively pursue lawsuits with the patents in tow, particularly against Android phone makers.
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06/23, 12:30pm
FTC to serve Google subpoenas in antitrust case
The FTC will soon formally subpoena Google in a large antitrust investigation, insiders uncovered Thursday morning. Requests for information should go out in the next several days, first to Google and then to its partners. The investigation outlined at the WSJ would determine whether Google's search business was illegally steering ads and users to its platforms while denying rivals a fair chance.
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06/17, 6:40pm
FTC approves Microsoft's Skype takeover
The FTC on Friday said it had given approval to Microsoft's buyout of Skype. The clearance determined that the deal wouldn't create any significant anti-competitive issues. The filing didn't say whether other agencies had to close the deal, which Microsoft had only said would be approved by the end of 2011.
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05/27, 8:05pm
FTC invites comment for changes to online ad rules
The FTC has invited public comment on ways in which eleven-year old advertising guidelines can be better translated to the Internet. Specifically, FOC staff are updating the “Dot Com Disclosures: Information About Online Advertising” rules. The FTC believes that during that eleven-year period, online advertising has evolved including the emergence of what it refers to as the “App economy”, “pop-up” ads and the emergence of advertising through social networking. These developments, it argues, warrant a review of the current guidelines.
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05/19, 10:30am
Amazon e-book sales outpace all print
Amazon marked a historic event for itself on Thursday after revealing that Kindle e-books were now outselling all forms of print combined. The switch came just four months after digital overtook paperback and less than a year after they began outselling hardcovers. Since the start of April, Amazon has been moving 105 paid Kindle books for every 100 paper title and would be higher if it included public domain books.
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05/17, 7:05pm
FCC and FTC to hold mobile location forum
Both the FCC and the FTC planned Tuesday to invite Apple and Google to a public forum on location-based privacy. The iPhone and Android creators were being asked to explain how their systems work at a non-binding June 28 gathering. Advocacy groups, carriers, and other tech firms were also expected to show.
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05/09, 9:55pm
Users would be able to opt out of tracking
The US Senate is currently considering a "do not track" bill (PDF) that proposes a number of regulations that may affect methods used to track user activity on the Internet. The bill, which was introduced by Senator John D. Rockefeller of West Virgina, would essentially block companies from logging website visitation details for users who choose to opt out of tracking programs.
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04/05, 7:40am
Google could undergo wider antitrust probe
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is rumored to be considering a broad antitrust investigation into the way Google conducts its Internet search business. According to the Bloomberg sources, the investigation could be as wide-ranging as the Justice Department’s investigation into Microsoft’s anti-competitive practices of ten years ago. However, the FTC is alleged to be waiting to see if the Justice Department investigates Google’s planned acquisition of ITA Software’s travel information service.
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03/30, 11:35am
Google, FTC make deal regarding privacy issues
Google on Wednesday announced that it has come to an agreement with the Federal Trade Commission regarding the lack of privacy controls in its Buzz feature that's tied into Gmail. Under the deal with the FTC, Google will undergo an independent review of its privacy procedures every two years. Google will also ask users to grant consent before it makes any changes to how it shares personal information.
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03/15, 6:25pm
Kindle and Netflix clear iOS rules
Apple showed possible leniency on its in-app subscription and in-app purchase rules on Tuesday by allowing through new versions of the Amazon Kindle (free, App Store) and Netflix (free, App Store) iPhone and iPad apps. Despite Apple's rules banning links to outside purchasing systems and requiring the official iTunes in-app system when an outside one exists, the Kindle 2.6.1 app still takes users to the web-based Kindle Store. Netflix' 1.2 update also still hsa its existing set and lets users subscribe to the service on the web without also having an iTunes option.
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02/22, 10:15pm
Chairman letter focuses on accidental purchases
FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz has reportedly confirmed plans to investigate Apple's in-app purchase (IAP) policies for iOS devices. Despite the recent buzz surrounding new App Store rules for subscription content, Leibowitz wrote a letter to Representative Ed Markey that primarily focused on concerns over children unknowingly purchasing virtual items that are billed to parents' iTunes accounts..
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02/15, 7:10pm
Rhapsody may exit iPhone or sue due to iTunes subs
Rhapsody today said Apple's new iTunes subscription rules were likely to force it out of the App Store and could lead to more. It called the plan to mandate iTunes in-app purchases "economically untenable" as it couldn't afford giving Apple 30 percent on top of its existing service. The music streaming service said it planned to collaborate with "market peers" and hinted it might sue to force Apple to compete fairly.
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02/08, 5:05pm
FTC gets net neutrality's Tim Wu as senior advisor
The Federal Trade Commission signaled a possible major change in direction on Tuesday by appointing Columbia Law School professor Tim Wu as a senior advisor. The academic is best known for codifying the concept of net neutrality and for authoring The Master Switch, a book that warned of the dangers of letting corporate power control otherwise free, open technology like the Internet. He has also been a key architect of early net neutrality, requiring AT&T to avoid blocking or unfairly prioritizing content after buying Bell South and setting the "any app, any device" terms for wireless auctions.
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01/24, 2:50pm
Google, Mozilla release web tracking opt-outs
Mozilla and Google have taken the FTC's advice and give users a Do Not Track option when browsing. The former's Firefox and the latter's Chrome browsers will let users click a box that will then disable the browser's ability to track browsing history that is then used to send out targeted ads. Mozilla will take a header-based approach that its makers believe is more universal and clearer than cookies or blacklists. Users won't need to load ad networks and advertiser lists for this to work, either.
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12/23, 1:00pm
ATT and Verizon top US lobbying while Apple little
Incumbent carriers AT&T and Verizon spent the most money lobbying the US government in summer 2010 while Apple and some other technology firms spent relatively little, newly published disclosure reports have uncovered. The two both significantly increased their spending to $3.47 million and $3.83 million respectively, up from $3.18 million and $2.96 million a year ago. AT&T spent most of its time persuading the government on broadband expansion, calling cards and distracted driving rules, while Verizon's details were less focused and saw it spend on Congress, the Federal Trade Commission, the Internal Revenue Service and the White House itself.
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