FTC Warns Companies to Protect Sensitive Health, Location Data

The FTC is committed to using its “full scope” of authorities to protect consumers’ location, health and sensitive data, the agency said in a blog Monday. The announcement follows an executive order from President Joe Biden aimed at combating “digital surveillance” in the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade (see 2207080060). The FTC will “vigorously enforce” the law, and past enforcement provides a “roadmap” for infractions involving location and health data, said FTC Division of Privacy and Identity Protection acting Associate Director Kristin Cohen. Cohen warned companies against deceptive acts involving promises to anonymize consumer data. The agency doesn’t “tolerate companies that over-collect, indefinitely retain, or misuse consumer data,” Cohen said, citing federal and state law.