Introduction to US Privacy Environment (35 questions) Flashcards
What is the role of the legislative branch?
to create laws
what is the role of the executive branch?
to enforce the law
accomplished through work of federal administrative agencies- which are commonly granted authority by congress to make rules and pursue enforcement action
constitution
supreme law of the land
doesn’t mention the word privacy anywhere in its text but protects privacy interest through 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 14th amendments
provides floor of protection over which states are free to enact stricter protections
legislation
federal and state level legislation provides most significant privacy related requirements
preemption- may prohibit states from enacting laws covering same general area as federal law
rules and regulations
privacy related laws permit federal agencies to adopt formal regulations and rules to clarify and enforce statutory law
government agencies provide informal guidance (ex. written opinions setting forth interpretation of law)
case law/common law
set of legal principles and law that has developed over the course of time as a result of societal customers and judicial decisions (not statutes and constitution)
stare decisis- judicial decisions should be guided by past judicial decisions
contract law
contract= legally binding agreements to be enforced by court of law
include
- offer
- acceptance
- consideration
consent decree
type of contract where parties agree to enter into and abide by judgement that prevents one party form acting in an illegal manner or requires a party to refrain from engaging in illegal act
approved by judge
usually permit party to avoid admitting guilt or wrongdoing
jurisdiction
courts authority to hear specific case or issue decree
personal jurisdiction
courts authority to hear dispute between specific parties
subject matter jurisdiction
courts authority to hear specific types of disputes
federal courts- limited
state courts- general
person
any individual or organization with legal rights
individual= natural person
organization = legal person
private right of action
individuals right to sue in their personal capacity to enforce legal claim
federal trade commission (FTC)
most important federal regulatory authority
independent agency- not under US president control
5 member bipartisan commission appointed by president confirmed by senate
purpose
- protect consumers against unfair or deceptive trade practices
- regulate certain market segments and conduct (ex. child privacy online and commercial email marketing)
- conduct investigations and require businesses to submit investigatory reports under oath (section 6)
unfair and deceptive trade practices
section 5 of FTC act
unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce are unlawful
doesn’t extend to
- non profit orgs (not in commerce)
- banks
- federal regulated financial institutions
- common carriers (transportation and communication industries)
deceptive
material statement or omission that is likely to mislead consumers who are acting reasonably under the circumstances
ex. false promises, misrepresentation, failures to comply with representations made to consumers
unfair
section 5- unfair and deceptive
Cant Easily Avoid SNOB
- injury is substantial+
- lacks offsetting benefits +
- can’t be easily avoided by consumers
doesn’t matter if company didn’t make any deceptive statements
ex: failure to implement adequate protection measures for sensitive personal info, provide inadequate disclosures to consumers
Avoid SNOB
1. cant easily avoid
2. S- substantial injury
3. NOB- no offsetting benefits
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
federal regulatory authority
independent agency- not under US president control
chairman + 4 commissioners appointed by president confirmed by senate
purpose- enforce various federal statutes related to telecommunications
department of commerce
federal regulatory authority
led by secretary of commerce
purpose
- develop federal privacy policy
- authorize privacy shield framework between US and EU
- NO ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY
department of health and human services
federal regulatory authority
led by secretary of health and human services
purpose
- oversee health and well being of US citizens
- oversee and implement + enforce HIPAA
- administer 21st century cures act
- administer confidentiality of substance use disorder patient records rule
federal reserve board
bank regulator
federal regulatory authority
independent agency- not under US president control
led by 7 members (governors) nominated by president confirmed by senate
- 14 year terms (staggered)
purpose
- supervise and regulate financial institution
- promote consumer protection
- oversee 12 separate geographic regions of reserve bank through federal reserve board of governors
consumer financial protection bureau
bank regulator
federal regulatory authority
purpose
- promote consumer protection
- enforce fair credit reporting act (FCRA)
- rule making and regulatory authority under GLBA
department of treasury
bank regulator
federal regulatory authority
purpose
- house office of comptroller of currency (financial regulator)
- charter, regulate, supervise national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches of foreign banks
state regulatory authority
state attorney general
given significant authority under both state and federal law
self regulatory authority
can bring enforcement actions
ex
- payment card industry- data security standard
- digital advertising alliance
- network advertising initiative
- direct marketing association
PCI
most prominent self regulatory group
imposes significant obligations which are enforced by individual card brands (AMEX, Discover, Visa, Mastercard) through their own program for compliance and enforcement
rules (drafted by PCI DSS counsel)
- firewall
- no vendor supplied defaults for passwords
- protection of cardholder data
- encrypt cardholder data on public networks
- anti-virus software
- restrict access to cardholder data
- track access
- test systems
- maintain policy
- hire qualified security assessor to assess and detect security violations
DAA adchoice program
most prominent self-regulatory group in advertising
developed by advertising and marketing trade groups
goal: provide consumers ability to opt-out of online and interest based ads
enforcement: council of better business bureaus and digital & marketing association
failure to comply with PCI rules
exclusion from Visa, Mastercard, or other payment card systems +
penalties of 5,000-100,000/ month of noncompliance
trust marks
privacy seal programs
- programs that require companies to abide by set of principles and operating procedures in exchange for the right to display a seal or logo indicating certification with those principals
goal- increase consumer confidence and trust
ex. better business bureau
civil liability
plaintiff vs defendant
basis- civil violation of statute or civil wrong arising under common law (tort or contract)
relief- monetary damages, injunction, specific performance, declaratory judgment
standard of liability- P prove by preponderance of evidence (more likely than not)
same procedural protections for both parties
criminal liability
department of justice (federal) or state prosecutor/attorney general vs defendant
basis- violation of criminal statute
relief- criminal sentence (fine or prison)
standard of liability- government proves guilty beyond a reasonable doubt
additional procedural protections for defendant (ex. presumption of innocence, 6th amendment right to counsel, right to speedy trial)
contract liability
breach of contract- one party fails to perform any of its contractual obligations at time performance is due
remedies- monetary damages measured by
- expectation interest (put plaintiff in position he would be in if contract was performed)
- reliance interest (put plaintiff in position he would be in if contract not made)
- restitution interest (prevent party from unjust enrichment as result of breach)
specific performance- ordered to comply with terms of contract/ available when no other remedy will adequately compensate
tort liability
types
- intentional (party knows or should know would cause harm to another)
- negligent (party fails to observe standard of care)
- strict liability (engage in certain prohibited conduct)
intrusion upon seclusion- privacy tort
person intentionally intrudes, physically or otherwise, upon the solitude or seclusion of another or his private affairs or concerns
must be highly offensive to reasonable person - substantial burden to one’s existence not just annoyance
appropriation- privacy tort
person uses another name or likeness for their own benefit without permission
publicity given to private life- privacy tort
person publicizes matters concerning another private life that are not of legitimate public concern
must be highly offensive to reasonable person
false light- privacy tort
person publicized matter concerning another that places the other before the public in false light
must be highly offensive to reasonable person
person must have had knowledge or acted in reckless disregard to falsity
federal enforcement actions
administrative procedures act (APA)
- provides set of procedural rules that govern actions (similar to FCRP)
- statutes can mandate specific enforcement producers different from those in APA (ex. FTC act)
procedure
1. commission issues complaint (can settle through consent decree which must be imposed for up two 20 years)
- administrative trial proceeds before ALJ
- violation found- ALJ enjoined company from continuing practices and order becomes final 60 days after served on company
- FTC can seek civil penalties (43,280/violation) if order is ignored by company - decision in appealable (1st to 5 commissioners then to federal district court)