FTC OKs Final Orders on APEC Privacy Program Misrepresentation by 3 Companies

The FTC approved separate final orders with Sentinel Labs, SpyChatter and Vir2us, which settled allegations in February that they falsely participated in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) voluntary data-transfer system (see 1702220040), the commission said in a Friday news release. Commissioners voted 2-0 to approve the three orders, which bar the companies "from misrepresenting their participation, membership or certification in any privacy or security program sponsored by a government or self-regulatory or standard-setting organization." The FTC alleged the companies falsely said in their online privacy policies that they participated in the APEC Cross-Border Privacy Rules system when they didn't. The commission also alleged Sentinel Labs "falsely" claimed participation in TRUSTe's privacy program.