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FTC Settlement with Fertility-Tracking App for Facebook/Google SDK Data Sharing

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Re: FTC Settlement with Fertility-Tracking App for Facebook/Google SDK Data Sharing

#4

Post by ndiscussion »

To quote a dead comment:

"Am I missing something, or are they really being let off with less than a slap on the wrist, and no fines? Not really sending a great message here, FTC."

Agreed. This is one of the most egregious abuses of privacy imagineable.

Re: FTC Settlement with Fertility-Tracking App for Facebook/Google SDK Data Sharing

#5

Post by Cd00d »

I'm curious if anyone has insight into the value of this kind of data.

I work with alternative data for investors, mostly consumer spend behavior - things like point of sale transactions and online cart contents. These have value in that you can correlate panel behaviors with a company's revenue or identify trends in the market.

But, for data like ovulation schedules or events like pregnancy, it seems that it's a lot of work (and based on the FTC ethically questionable) to see one-off events or target specific consumers a small set of products.

I must be looking at the available opportunities with some kind of blind spot, because I don't get why companies would pay for this sort of data.

Re: FTC Settlement with Fertility-Tracking App for Facebook/Google SDK Data Sharing

#6

Post by jmholla »

Cd00d wrote: post #5

I'm curious if anyone has insight into the value of this kind of data. I work with alternative data for investors, mostly consumer spend behavior - things like point of sale transactions and online cart contents. These have value in that you can correlate panel behaviors with a company's revenue or identify trends in the market. But, for data like ovulation schedules or events like pregnancy, it seems that it's a lot…

Some companies' business is that one off customer. Think of weddings and graduations. Entire businesses are formed around those too.

Re: FTC Settlement with Fertility-Tracking App for Facebook/Google SDK Data Sharing

#7

Post by ascagnel_ »

Cd00d wrote: post #5

I'm curious if anyone has insight into the value of this kind of data. I work with alternative data for investors, mostly consumer spend behavior - things like point of sale transactions and online cart contents. These have value in that you can correlate panel behaviors with a company's revenue or identify trends in the market. But, for data like ovulation schedules or events like pregnancy, it seems that it's a lot…

There's a lot of value in knowing about a pregnancy -- in the months leading up to a baby, you're spending a ton of money getting ready for the baby or on constantly buying new clothes for mom as the pregnancy moves along. Once the baby comes, you have a good chance for capturing a repeat customer on a bunch of baby-related items (diapers, wipes, etc).

Re: FTC Settlement with Fertility-Tracking App for Facebook/Google SDK Data Sharing

#8

Post by swebs »

ndiscussion wrote: post #4

To quote a dead comment: "Am I missing something, or are they really being let off with less than a slap on the wrist, and no fines? Not really sending a great message here, FTC." Agreed. This is one of the most egregious abuses of privacy imagineable.

You can revive a dead comment if you feel it was unjustly killed. Just click the timestamp then click "vouch".

Re: FTC Settlement with Fertility-Tracking App for Facebook/Google SDK Data Sharing

#9

Post by averysmallbird »

ndiscussion wrote: post #4

To quote a dead comment: "Am I missing something, or are they really being let off with less than a slap on the wrist, and no fines? Not really sending a great message here, FTC." Agreed. This is one of the most egregious abuses of privacy imagineable.

The FTC brings privacy cases under its 'unfair and deceptive acts or practices in commerce' prohibition, which does not provide it the legal basis to impose civil penalties. There are possibly other things it could have required (the recent Ever case requiring deletion is a good example), but it is currently constrained on what it can force for a first violation. The two Democratic FTC Commissioners issued a useful statement on what else they would have required: https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/public_statements...
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