InfoBytes Blog
FTC Announces Settlement with Ride-Sharing Company Over Privacy Allegations
On August 15, the FTC issued a press release announcing a settlement with a ride-sharing company over allegations that it violated the Federal Trade Commission Act by making deceptive claims about its privacy and data practices. According to the complaint, the company allegedly failed to closely monitor and audit its employees’ internal access to consumer and driver data. Furthermore, the company represented to consumers and drivers that personal information stored in its databases were secure, but, according to the FTC, failed to implement reasonable measures to prevent unauthorized access to consumers and driver data maintained by the ride-sharing company’s third-party cloud service provider. Both counts, the FTC alleged, demonstrated false or misleading representations. In the press release, FTC Acting Chairman Maureen K. Ohlhausen said, “This case shows that, even if you’re a fast growing company, you can’t leave consumers behind: you must honor your privacy and security promises.”
Under the terms of the decision and order, the company has agreed to establish, implement, and maintain a written “comprehensive privacy program,” reasonably designed to: (i) “address privacy risks related to the development and management of new and existing products and services for consumers,” and (ii) “protect the privacy and confidentiality of Personal Information.” The company is also required to obtain biennial independent third-party assessments to address privacy controls requirements and “certify that the privacy controls are operating with sufficient effectiveness to provide reasonable assurance to protect the privacy of Personal Information and that the controls have operated throughout the reporting period.”
The agreement with the FTC will be subject to public comment for 30 days through September 15, at which point the FTC will decide whether to make the proposed consent order final.