World Innovators,Inc.; Analysis of Proposed Consent Orders to Aid Public Comment, 53255-53257 [E9-24996]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 199 / Friday, October 16, 2009 / Notices
jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
www.ftc.gov/os/actions.shtm). A paper
copy can be obtained from the FTC
Public Reference Room, Room 130-H,
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW,
Washington, D.C. 20580, either in
person or by calling (202) 326-2222.
Public comments are invited, and may
be filed with the Commission in either
paper or electronic form. All comments
should be filed as prescribed in the
ADDRESSES section above, and must be
received on or before the date specified
in the DATES section.
Analysis of Agreement Containing
Consent Order to Aid Public Comment
The Federal Trade Commission
(‘‘FTC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’) has accepted,
subject to final approval, a consent
agreement from Collectify, Inc.
(‘‘Collectify’’).
The proposed consent order has been
placed on the public record for thirty
(30) days for receipt of comments by
interested persons. Comments received
during this period will become part of
the public record. After thirty (30) days,
the Commission will again review the
agreement and the comments received,
and will decide whether it should
withdraw from the agreement and take
appropriate action or make final the
agreement’s proposed order.
This matter concerns alleged false or
misleading representations that
Collectify made to consumers
concerning its participation in the Safe
Harbor privacy framework (‘‘Safe
Harbor’’) agreed upon by the U.S. and
the European Union (‘‘EU’’). It is among
the Commission’s first cases to
challenge deceptive claims about the
Safe Harbor. The Safe Harbor provides
a mechanism for U.S. companies to
transfer data outside the EU consistent
with European law. To join the Safe
Harbor, a company must self-certify to
the U.S. Department of Commerce
(‘‘Commerce’’) that it complies with
seven principles and related
requirements. Commerce maintains a
public website, (www.export.gov/
safeharbor), where it posts the names of
companies that have self-certified to the
Safe Harbor. The listing of companies
indicates whether their self-certification
is ‘‘current’’ or ‘‘not current.’’
Companies are required to re-certify
every year in order to retain their status
as ‘‘current’’ members of the Safe Harbor
framework.
Collectify sells comprehensive
cataloguing software to consumers over
the internet, including through a
website (www.collectify.com).
According to the Commission’s
complaint, since at least September
2001, Collectify has set forth on its
website, (www.collectify.com), privacy
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:37 Oct 15, 2009
Jkt 220001
policies and statements about its
practices, including statements related
to its participation in the Safe Harbor
privacy framework.
The Commission’s complaint alleges
that Collectify falsely represented that it
was a current participant in the Safe
Harbor when, in fact, from October 2004
until July 2009, Collectify was not a
current participant in the Safe Harbor.
The Commission’s complaint alleges
that in October 2001, Collectify
submitted a Safe Harbor selfcertification, which it renewed in
October 2002 and October 2003.
Collectify did not renew its selfcertification in October 2004 and was in
‘‘not current’’ status on the Commerce
website until it renewed its selfcertification in July 2009.
Part I of the proposed order prohibits
Collectify from making
misrepresentations about its
membership in any privacy, security, or
any other compliance program
sponsored by the government or any
other third party.
Parts II through VI of the proposed
order are reporting and compliance
provisions. Part II requires Collectify to
retain documents relating to its
compliance with the order for a fiveyear period. Part III requires
dissemination of the order now and in
the future to persons with
responsibilities relating to the subject
matter of the order. Part IV ensures
notification to the FTC of changes in
corporate status. Part V mandates that
Collectify submit an initial compliance
report to the FTC, and make available to
the FTC subsequent reports. Part VI is
a provision ‘‘sunsetting’’ the order after
twenty (20) years, with certain
exceptions.
The purpose of the analysis is to
facilitate public comment on the
proposed order. It is not intended to
constitute an official interpretation of
the agreement and proposed order or to
modify in any way their terms.
By direction of the Commission.
Donald S. Clark
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9–24951 Filed 10–15–09; 9:32 am]
BILLING CODE 6750–01–S
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
53255
SUMMARY: The consent agreement in this
matter settles alleged violations of
federal law prohibiting unfair or
deceptive acts or practices or unfair
methods of competition. The attached
Analysis to Aid Public Comment
describes both the allegations in the
draft complaint and the terms of the
consent order — embodied in the
consent agreement — that would settle
these allegations.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before November 5, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties are
invited to submit written comments
electronically or in paper form.
Comments should refer to ‘‘World
Innovators, File No. 092 3137’’ to
facilitate the organization of comments.
Please note that your comment —
including your name and your state —
will be placed on the public record of
this proceeding, including on the
publicly accessible FTC website, at
(https://www.ftc.gov/os/
publiccomments.shtm).
Because comments will be made
public, they should not include any
sensitive personal information, such as
an individual’s Social Security Number;
date of birth; driver’s license number or
other state identification number, or
foreign country equivalent; passport
number; financial account number; or
credit or debit card number. Comments
also should not include any sensitive
health information, such as medical
records or other individually
identifiable health information. In
addition, comments should not include
any ‘‘[t]rade secret or any commercial or
financial information which is obtained
from any person and which is privileged
or confidential . . . .,’’ as provided in
Section 6(f) of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C.
46(f), and Commission Rule 4.10(a)(2),
16 CFR 4.10(a)(2). Comments containing
material for which confidential
treatment is requested must be filed in
paper form, must be clearly labeled
‘‘Confidential,’’ and must comply with
FTC Rule 4.9(c), 16 CFR 4.9(c).1
Because paper mail addressed to the
FTC is subject to delay due to
heightened security screening, please
consider submitting your comments in
electronic form. Comments filed in
electronic form should be submitted by
using the following weblink: (https://
public.commentworks.com/ftc/
[File No. 092 3137]
World Innovators,Inc.; Analysis of
Proposed Consent Orders to Aid
Public Comment
Federal Trade Commission.
Proposed Consent Agreement.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
PO 00000
Frm 00043
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
1 The comment must be accompanied by an
explicit request for confidential treatment,
including the factual and legal basis for the request,
and must identify the specific portions of the
comment to be withheld from the public record.
The request will be granted or denied by the
Commission’s General Counsel, consistent with
applicable law and the public interest. See FTC
Rule 4.9(c), 16 CFR 4.9(c).
E:\FR\FM\16OCN1.SGM
16OCN1
jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
53256
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 199 / Friday, October 16, 2009 / Notices
worldinnovators) and following the
instructions on the web-based form. To
ensure that the Commission considers
an electronic comment, you must file it
on the web-based form at the weblink:
(https://public.commentworks.com/ftc/
worldinnovators). If this Notice appears
at (https://www.regulations.gov/search/
index.jsp), you may also file an
electronic comment through that
website. The Commission will consider
all comments that regulations.gov
forwards to it. You may also visit the
FTC website at (https://www.ftc.gov/) to
read the Notice and the news release
describing it.
A comment filed in paper form
should include the ‘‘World Innovators,
File No. 092 3137 reference both in the
text and on the envelope, and should be
mailed or delivered to the following
address: Federal Trade Commission,
Office of the Secretary, Room H-135
(Annex D), 600 Pennsylvania Avenue,
NW, Washington, DC 20580. The FTC is
requesting that any comment filed in
paper form be sent by courier or
overnight service, if possible, because
U.S. postal mail in the Washington area
and at the Commission is subject to
delay due to heightened security
precautions.
The Federal Trade Commission Act
(‘‘FTC Act’’) and other laws the
Commission administers permit the
collection of public comments to
consider and use in this proceeding as
appropriate. The Commission will
consider all timely and responsive
public comments that it receives,
whether filed in paper or electronic
form. Comments received will be
available to the public on the FTC
website, to the extent practicable, at
(https://www.ftc.gov/os/
publiccomments.shtm). As a matter of
discretion, the Commission makes every
effort to remove home contact
information for individuals from the
public comments it receives before
placing those comments on the FTC
website. More information, including
routine uses permitted by the Privacy
Act, may be found in the FTC’s privacy
policy, at (https://www.ftc.gov/ftc/
privacy.shtm).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Molly Crawford (202-326-3076) or Katie
´
Ratte (202-326-3514), Bureau of
Consumer Protection, 600 Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20580.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant
to section 6(f) of the Federal Trade
Commission Act, 38 Stat. 721, 15 U.S.C.
46(f), and § 2.34 the Commission Rules
of Practice, 16 CFR 2.34, notice is
hereby given that the above-captioned
consent agreement containing a consent
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:37 Oct 15, 2009
Jkt 220001
order to cease and desist, having been
filed with and accepted, subject to final
approval, by the Commission, has been
placed on the public record for a period
of thirty (30) days. The following
Analysis to Aid Public Comment
describes the terms of the consent
agreement, and the allegations in the
complaint. An electronic copy of the
full text of the consent agreement
package can be obtained from the FTC
Home Page (for October 6, 2009), on the
World Wide Web, at (https://
www.ftc.gov/os/actions.shtm). A paper
copy can be obtained from the FTC
Public Reference Room, Room 130-H,
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW,
Washington, D.C. 20580, either in
person or by calling (202) 326-2222.
Public comments are invited, and may
be filed with the Commission in either
paper or electronic form. All comments
should be filed as prescribed in the
ADDRESSES section above, and must be
received on or before the date specified
in the DATES section.
Analysis of Agreement Containing
Consent Order to Aid Public Comment
The Federal Trade Commission
(‘‘FTC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’) has accepted,
subject to final approval, a consent
agreement from World Innovators, Inc.
(‘‘World Innovators’’).
The proposed consent order has been
placed on the public record for thirty
(30) days for receipt of comments by
interested persons. Comments received
during this period will become part of
the public record. After thirty (30) days,
the Commission will again review the
agreement and the comments received,
and will decide whether it should
withdraw from the agreement and take
appropriate action or make final the
agreement’s proposed order.
This matter concerns alleged false or
misleading representations that World
Innovators made to consumers
concerning its participation in the Safe
Harbor privacy framework (‘‘Safe
Harbor’’) agreed upon by the U.S. and
the European Union (‘‘EU’’). It is among
the Commission’s first cases to
challenge deceptive claims about the
Safe Harbor. The Safe Harbor provides
a mechanism for U.S. companies to
transfer data outside the EU consistent
with European law. To join the Safe
Harbor, a company must self-certify to
the U.S. Department of Commerce
(‘‘Commerce’’) that it complies with
seven principles and related
requirements. Commerce maintains a
public website, (www.export.gov/
safeharbor), where it posts the names of
companies that have self-certified to the
Safe Harbor. The listing of companies
indicates whether their self-certification
PO 00000
Frm 00044
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
is ‘‘current’’ or ‘‘not current.’’
Companies are required to re-certify
every year in order to retain their status
as ‘‘current’’ members of the Safe Harbor
framework.
World Innovators is a list broker that
also sells marketing consulting services,
including through its website
(www.worldinnovators.com). According
to the Commission’s complaint, since at
least November 2001, World Innovators
has set forth on its website privacy
policies and statements about its
practices, including statements that it is
a current participant in the Safe Harbor.
The Commission’s complaint alleges
that World Innovators falsely
represented that it was a current
participant in the Safe Harbor when, in
fact, from September 2004 until July
2009, World Innovators was not a
current participant in the Safe Harbor.
Specifically, the Commission’s
complaint alleges that in September
2001, World Innovators submitted to
Commerce a self-certification to the Safe
Harbor and renewed that selfcertification in September 2002 and
September 2003. In September 2004,
World Innovators did not renew its selfcertification to the Safe Harbor, and
Commerce updated its status to ‘‘not
current’’ on its public website. World
Innovators remained in ‘‘not current’’
status on Commerce’s website until it
submitted a new Safe Harbor selfcertification in July 2009.
The proposed order applies to World
Innovators’ representations about its
membership in any privacy, security, or
any other compliance program
sponsored by the government or any
other third party. It contains provisions
designed to prevent World Innovators
from engaging in the future in practices
similar to those alleged in the
complaint.
Part I of the proposed order prohibits
World Innovators from making
misrepresentations about its
membership in any privacy, security, or
any other compliance program
sponsored by the government or any
other third party.
Parts II through VI of the proposed
order are reporting and compliance
provisions. Part II requires World
Innovators to retain documents relating
to its compliance with the order for a
five-year period. Part III requires
dissemination of the order now and in
the future to persons with
responsibilities relating to the subject
matter of the order. Part IV ensures
notification to the FTC of changes in
corporate status. Part V mandates that
World Innovators submit an initial
compliance report to the FTC, and make
available to the FTC subsequent reports.
E:\FR\FM\16OCN1.SGM
16OCN1
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 199 / Friday, October 16, 2009 / Notices
Part VI is a provision ‘‘sunsetting’’ the
order after twenty (20) years, with
certain exceptions.
The purpose of the analysis is to
facilitate public comment on the
proposed order. It is not intended to
constitute an official interpretation of
the agreement and proposed order or to
modify in any way their terms.
By direction of the Commission.
Donald S. Clark
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9–24996 Filed 10–15–09; 9:30 am]
BILLING CODE 6750–01–S
GENERAL SERVICES
ADMINISTRATION
[OMB Control No. 3090–0228]
Office of Civil Rights; Submission for
OMB Review; Nondiscrimination in
Federal Financial Assistance Programs
Office of Civil Rights, GSA.
Notice of request for comments
regarding a renewal to an existing OMB
clearance.
AGENCY:
jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
ACTION:
SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. Chapter 35), the General Services
Administration will be submitting to the
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) a request to review and approve
a previously approved information
collection requirement regarding
nondiscrimination in Federal financial
assistance programs. This information is
needed to facilitate nondiscrimination
in GSA’s Federal Financial Assistance
Programs, consistent with Federal civil
rights laws and regulations that apply to
recipients of Federal financial
assistance.
Public comments are particularly
invited on: Whether this collection of
information is necessary and whether it
will have practical utility; whether our
estimate of the public burden of this
collection of information is accurate and
based on valid assumptions and
methodology; and ways to enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected.
DATES: Submit comments on or before:
November 16, 2009.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sloan Farrell, Compliance Officer,
Office of Civil Rights, at telephone (202)
501–4347 or via e-mail to
sloan.farrell@gsa.gov.
Submit comments regarding
this burden estimate or any other aspect
of this collection of information,
including suggestions for reducing this
burden to the Regulatory Secretariat
ADDRESSES:
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:37 Oct 15, 2009
Jkt 220001
53257
(MVPR), General Services
Administration, 1800 F Street, NW.,
Room 4041, Washington, DC 20405.
Please cite OMB Control No. 3090–0228,
Nondiscrimination in Federal Financial
Assistance Programs, in all
correspondence.
Dated: October 8, 2009.
Casey Coleman,
Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E9–24879 Filed 10–15–09; 8:45 am]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
A. Purpose
The General Services Administration
(GSA) has mission responsibilities
related to monitoring and enforcing
compliance with Federal civil rights
laws and regulations that apply to
Federal Financial Assistance programs
administered by GSA. Specifically,
those laws provide that no person on
the ground of race, color, national
origin, disability, sex or age shall be
excluded from participation in, be
denied the benefits of, or be otherwise
subjected to discrimination under any
program in connection with which
Federal financial assistance is extended
under laws administered in whole or in
part by GSA. These mission
responsibilities generate the
requirement to request and obtain
certain data from recipients of Federal
surplus property for the purpose of
determining compliance, such as the
number of individuals, based on race
and ethnic origin, of the recipient’s
eligible and actual serviced population;
race and national origin of those denied
participation in the recipient’s
program(s); non-English languages
encountered by the recipient’s
program(s) and how the recipient is
addressing meaningful access for
individuals that are Limited English
Proficient; whether there has been
complaints or lawsuits filed against the
recipient based on prohibited
discrimination and whether there has
been any findings; and whether the
recipient’s facilities are accessible to
qualified individuals with disabilities.
B. Annual Reporting Burden
Respondents: 200.
Responses per Respondent: 1.
Total Responses: 200.
Hours per Response: 2.
Total Burden Hours: 400.
Obtaining Copies of Proposals:
Requesters may obtain a copy of the
information collection documents from
the General Services Administration,
Regulatory Secretariat (MVPR), 1800 F
Street, NW., Room 4041, Washington,
DC 20405, telephone (202) 501–4755.
Please cite OMB Control No. 3090–0228,
Nondiscrimination in Federal Financial
Assistance Programs, in all
correspondence.
PO 00000
Frm 00045
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
BILLING CODE 6820–34–P
Food and Drug Administration
[Docket No. FDA–2009–N–0475]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Administrative
Detention and Banned Medical Devices
AGENCY:
Food and Drug Administration,
HHS.
ACTION:
Notice.
SUMMARY: The Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) is announcing an
opportunity for public comment on the
proposed collection of certain
information by the agency. Under the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the
PRA), Federal agencies are required to
publish notice in the Federal Register
concerning each proposed collection of
information, including each proposed
extension of an existing collection of
information, and to allow 60 days for
public comment in response to the
notice. This notice solicits comments on
information collection requirements for
administrative detention and banned
medical devices.
DATES: Submit written or electronic
comments on the collection of
information by December 15, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Submit electronic
comments on the collection of
information to https://
www.regulations.gov. Submit written
comments on the collection of
information to the Division of Dockets
Management (HFA–305), Food and Drug
Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm.
1061, Rockville, MD 20852. All
comments should be identified with the
docket number found in brackets in the
heading of this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Denver Presley, Jr., Office of Information
Management (HFA–710), Food and Drug
Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane,
Rockville, MD 20857, 301–796–3793,
Denver.Presley@fda.hhs.gov.
Under the
PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), Federal
agencies must obtain approval from the
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for each collection of
information they conduct or sponsor.
‘‘Collection of information’’ is defined
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
E:\FR\FM\16OCN1.SGM
16OCN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 199 (Friday, October 16, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53255-53257]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-24996]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
[File No. 092 3137]
World Innovators,Inc.; Analysis of Proposed Consent Orders to Aid
Public Comment
AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission.
ACTION: Proposed Consent Agreement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged
violations of federal law prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or
practices or unfair methods of competition. The attached Analysis to
Aid Public Comment describes both the allegations in the draft
complaint and the terms of the consent order -- embodied in the consent
agreement -- that would settle these allegations.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 5, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties are invited to submit written comments
electronically or in paper form. Comments should refer to ``World
Innovators, File No. 092 3137'' to facilitate the organization of
comments. Please note that your comment -- including your name and your
state -- will be placed on the public record of this proceeding,
including on the publicly accessible FTC website, at (https://www.ftc.gov/os/publiccomments.shtm).
Because comments will be made public, they should not include any
sensitive personal information, such as an individual's Social Security
Number; date of birth; driver's license number or other state
identification number, or foreign country equivalent; passport number;
financial account number; or credit or debit card number. Comments also
should not include any sensitive health information, such as medical
records or other individually identifiable health information. In
addition, comments should not include any ``[t]rade secret or any
commercial or financial information which is obtained from any person
and which is privileged or confidential . . . .,'' as provided in
Section 6(f) of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. 46(f), and Commission Rule
4.10(a)(2), 16 CFR 4.10(a)(2). Comments containing material for which
confidential treatment is requested must be filed in paper form, must
be clearly labeled ``Confidential,'' and must comply with FTC Rule
4.9(c), 16 CFR 4.9(c).\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The comment must be accompanied by an explicit request for
confidential treatment, including the factual and legal basis for
the request, and must identify the specific portions of the comment
to be withheld from the public record. The request will be granted
or denied by the Commission's General Counsel, consistent with
applicable law and the public interest. See FTC Rule 4.9(c), 16 CFR
4.9(c).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Because paper mail addressed to the FTC is subject to delay due to
heightened security screening, please consider submitting your comments
in electronic form. Comments filed in electronic form should be
submitted by using the following weblink: (https://
public.commentworks.com/ftc/
[[Page 53256]]
worldinnovators) and following the instructions on the web-based form.
To ensure that the Commission considers an electronic comment, you must
file it on the web-based form at the weblink: (https://public.commentworks.com/ftc/worldinnovators). If this Notice appears at
(https://www.regulations.gov/search/index.jsp), you may also file an
electronic comment through that website. The Commission will consider
all comments that regulations.gov forwards to it. You may also visit
the FTC website at (https://www.ftc.gov/) to read the Notice and the
news release describing it.
A comment filed in paper form should include the ``World
Innovators, File No. 092 3137 reference both in the text and on the
envelope, and should be mailed or delivered to the following address:
Federal Trade Commission, Office of the Secretary, Room H-135 (Annex
D), 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580. The FTC is
requesting that any comment filed in paper form be sent by courier or
overnight service, if possible, because U.S. postal mail in the
Washington area and at the Commission is subject to delay due to
heightened security precautions.
The Federal Trade Commission Act (``FTC Act'') and other laws the
Commission administers permit the collection of public comments to
consider and use in this proceeding as appropriate. The Commission will
consider all timely and responsive public comments that it receives,
whether filed in paper or electronic form. Comments received will be
available to the public on the FTC website, to the extent practicable,
at (https://www.ftc.gov/os/publiccomments.shtm). As a matter of
discretion, the Commission makes every effort to remove home contact
information for individuals from the public comments it receives before
placing those comments on the FTC website. More information, including
routine uses permitted by the Privacy Act, may be found in the FTC's
privacy policy, at (https://www.ftc.gov/ftc/privacy.shtm).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Molly Crawford (202-326-3076) or Katie
Ratt[eacute] (202-326-3514), Bureau of Consumer Protection, 600
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20580.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 6(f) of the Federal
Trade Commission Act, 38 Stat. 721, 15 U.S.C. 46(f), and Sec. 2.34 the
Commission Rules of Practice, 16 CFR 2.34, notice is hereby given that
the above-captioned consent agreement containing a consent order to
cease and desist, having been filed with and accepted, subject to final
approval, by the Commission, has been placed on the public record for a
period of thirty (30) days. The following Analysis to Aid Public
Comment describes the terms of the consent agreement, and the
allegations in the complaint. An electronic copy of the full text of
the consent agreement package can be obtained from the FTC Home Page
(for October 6, 2009), on the World Wide Web, at (https://www.ftc.gov/os/actions.shtm). A paper copy can be obtained from the FTC Public
Reference Room, Room 130-H, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington,
D.C. 20580, either in person or by calling (202) 326-2222.
Public comments are invited, and may be filed with the Commission
in either paper or electronic form. All comments should be filed as
prescribed in the ADDRESSES section above, and must be received on or
before the date specified in the DATES section.
Analysis of Agreement Containing Consent Order to Aid Public Comment
The Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'') has
accepted, subject to final approval, a consent agreement from World
Innovators, Inc. (``World Innovators'').
The proposed consent order has been placed on the public record for
thirty (30) days for receipt of comments by interested persons.
Comments received during this period will become part of the public
record. After thirty (30) days, the Commission will again review the
agreement and the comments received, and will decide whether it should
withdraw from the agreement and take appropriate action or make final
the agreement's proposed order.
This matter concerns alleged false or misleading representations
that World Innovators made to consumers concerning its participation in
the Safe Harbor privacy framework (``Safe Harbor'') agreed upon by the
U.S. and the European Union (``EU''). It is among the Commission's
first cases to challenge deceptive claims about the Safe Harbor. The
Safe Harbor provides a mechanism for U.S. companies to transfer data
outside the EU consistent with European law. To join the Safe Harbor, a
company must self-certify to the U.S. Department of Commerce
(``Commerce'') that it complies with seven principles and related
requirements. Commerce maintains a public website, (www.export.gov/safeharbor), where it posts the names of companies that have self-
certified to the Safe Harbor. The listing of companies indicates
whether their self-certification is ``current'' or ``not current.''
Companies are required to re-certify every year in order to retain
their status as ``current'' members of the Safe Harbor framework.
World Innovators is a list broker that also sells marketing
consulting services, including through its website
(www.worldinnovators.com). According to the Commission's complaint,
since at least November 2001, World Innovators has set forth on its
website privacy policies and statements about its practices, including
statements that it is a current participant in the Safe Harbor.
The Commission's complaint alleges that World Innovators falsely
represented that it was a current participant in the Safe Harbor when,
in fact, from September 2004 until July 2009, World Innovators was not
a current participant in the Safe Harbor. Specifically, the
Commission's complaint alleges that in September 2001, World Innovators
submitted to Commerce a self-certification to the Safe Harbor and
renewed that self-certification in September 2002 and September 2003.
In September 2004, World Innovators did not renew its self-
certification to the Safe Harbor, and Commerce updated its status to
``not current'' on its public website. World Innovators remained in
``not current'' status on Commerce's website until it submitted a new
Safe Harbor self-certification in July 2009.
The proposed order applies to World Innovators' representations
about its membership in any privacy, security, or any other compliance
program sponsored by the government or any other third party. It
contains provisions designed to prevent World Innovators from engaging
in the future in practices similar to those alleged in the complaint.
Part I of the proposed order prohibits World Innovators from making
misrepresentations about its membership in any privacy, security, or
any other compliance program sponsored by the government or any other
third party.
Parts II through VI of the proposed order are reporting and
compliance provisions. Part II requires World Innovators to retain
documents relating to its compliance with the order for a five-year
period. Part III requires dissemination of the order now and in the
future to persons with responsibilities relating to the subject matter
of the order. Part IV ensures notification to the FTC of changes in
corporate status. Part V mandates that World Innovators submit an
initial compliance report to the FTC, and make available to the FTC
subsequent reports.
[[Page 53257]]
Part VI is a provision ``sunsetting'' the order after twenty (20)
years, with certain exceptions.
The purpose of the analysis is to facilitate public comment on the
proposed order. It is not intended to constitute an official
interpretation of the agreement and proposed order or to modify in any
way their terms.
By direction of the Commission.
Donald S. Clark
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-24996 Filed 10-15-09; 9:30 am]
BILLING CODE 6750-01-S