FTC Details Sept. 15 Event on How Ad, Privacy Disclosures Affect Consumers

The FTC detailed the agenda for a Sept. 15 event on how company disclosures to consumers about advertising claims, privacy practices and other information are tested and evaluated. In a Monday news release, the commission said it's "especially interested in learning about the costs and benefits of disclosure testing methods in the digital age." Chairwoman Edith Ramirez, Chief Technologist Lorrie Cranor and Consumer Protection Bureau Director Jessica Rich will speak at the daylong workshop, which will feature academics, other FTC staff and representatives from technology companies. Twenty-two presentations will focus on cognitive models on how consumers process disclosures, methods and procedures to assess the effectiveness of such disclosures, whether people pay attention to various types of disclosures, how well they understand the disclosures and how disclosures affect consumers' decision-making processes. The event will also look at future research and case studies. The 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. workshop, which will be webcast live, will be at FTC's Constitution Center auditorium, 400 7th St. SW.