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Enforcing Privacy Promises: Section 5 of the FTC Act
A key part of the Commission's privacy program
is making sure companies keep the
promises they make to consumers about privacy
and, in particular, the precautions
they take to secure
consumers' personal information.
To respond to consumers' concerns
about privacy, many Web sites post privacy
policies that
describe how consumers’ personal information is
collected, used, shared, and secured.
Indeed, almost all the top 100 commercial sites now
post privacy policies. Using its authority under Section
5 of the FTC Act, which prohibits unfair or deceptive
practices, the Commission has brought a number of cases
to enforce the promises in privacy statements, including
promises about the security of consumers’ personal
information. To see the Commission’s Section 5 privacy
cases, click here.
The
Commission also examines and reports
on privacy issues. Learn more about these
issues and the Commission’s work by reading our Reports
& Testimony, reviewing information about our Workshops,
and by looking through our Press Room.
Educating consumers and businesses about the importance
of information privacy is also a central part of the
Commission’s mission -- click here
to see our publications. Laws & Rules
Federal Trade Commission Act
15 U.S.C. §§ 41-58,
as amended.
Section 5 of the FTC Act prohibits unfair or deceptive acts
or practices in the marketplace.
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