Privacy Initiatives

Advancing privacy best practices and operating independent, third-party accountability programs to help businesses and consumers navigate the digital marketplace


Businesses that collect personal information understand the critical need to comply with privacy and data protection laws. But from small startups to global enterprises, some businesses choose to do more: leading the way by demonstrating their embrace of privacy standards and best practices that set the tone for their industry.

 

BBB National Programs works with individual companies, industry groups, and regulators to develop, monitor, and enforce robust privacy standards. Our trusted privacy programs deliver independent accountability for privacy promises, whether built on self-regulatory principles or legal requirements, tailored to respond to the unique privacy challenges presented by specific data types, like children’s data, or use cases, such as emerging technologies and cross-border transfers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Global Privacy Division

Through BBB National Programs’ Global Privacy Division, businesses show their partners and customers that they put privacy first, no matter where they operate. Our programs serve as key elements of frameworks like the Cross-Border Privacy Rules and EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework, bridging gaps between divergent privacy and data protection regimes.

 

 

Thought Leadership

The Privacy Initiatives team works with businesses to drive the adoption of unified privacy practices, facilitate consumer education and choice, and offer consumers accessible, no-cost privacy dispute resolution. We understand how to craft enforceable and fair mechanisms that protect consumers in the marketplace, and enable responsible businesses to compete on trust and accountability. 

 

Blog

California’s “Nouveau” Approach to Privacy

As privacy becomes a key pillar for business growth domestically and internationally, California is aiming to ease the burden of U.S. state vs global regulations, working directly with foreign regulators to harmonize approaches to new technologies and data privacy.
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Blog

Old MacDonald Had an Engagement Farm: Lessons Learned from FTC v. NGL

Capturing user engagement is the foundation of internet commerce. And while the incentives to prompt greater engagement are certainly understandable, the recent NGL Labs case from the FTC raises important questions about the ethical and legal ramifications when companies try to artificially generate engagement among their userbase.
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Blog

Robust Dispute Resolution: A Quiet Enforcer for Privacy Compliance

ICYMI, a procedural rule change to update the GDPR has been agreed upon by the European Parliament to provide EU citizens with greater legal certainty regarding enforcement of GDPR, improve the dispute resolution process, and streamline the handling of cross-border cases.
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Blog

Warning: Use Caution with AI in the Children’s Space

Children are engaging with various forms of artificial intelligence (AI), a technology that can provide significant benefits that can be accompanied by a series of risks. The Children’s Advertising Review Unit compliance warning regarding the use of AI in practices directed to children reminds industry of its special responsibilities to children.
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Podcast

Making Sense of AI Governance

On this episode of Priv, Miles Light steps into the role of host for this conversation, joined by Brenda Leong, a partner at Luminos.Law to discuss the responsibilities and requirements of artificial intelligence (AI), in privacy and beyond. 
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Podcast

Likely to be Accessed: Do You Know Who Your Users Are?

Join us for this episode of Priv, where Dona Fraser is joined by Phyllis Marcus to discuss the broad operational, financial, and logistical impacts and challenges of trying to protect both children and teens online under the same laws and regulations. 

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Latest Announcements

Press Release

BBB National Programs Appoints Amy Steacy as General Counsel, Promotes New Leaders in Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising and Global Privacy

McLean, VA – June 4, 2024 – BBB National Programs announced the appointment of Amy Steacy as General Counsel. Additional leadership promotions include Daniel Range as Vice President of the Children's Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative (CFBAI) and Dr. Divya Sridhar as Vice President, Global...

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Press Release

BBB National Programs Issues Compliance Warning for Use of AI in Child-Directed Advertising and Data Collection

McLean, VA – May 1, 2024 – BBB National Programs’ Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) today issued a new compliance warning on the application of CARU’s Advertising and Privacy Guidelines to the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), putting advertisers, brands, endorsers, developers, toy manufacturers, and others on...

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Decision

Children’s Advertising Review Unit Finds YouTube Channel “Vlad and Niki” in Violation of its Advertising Guidelines; Recommends Disclosure Modifications

New York, NY – May 29, 2024 - The Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) launched an investigation into the YouTube channel “Vlad and Niki” to determine if the channel's video content and advertisements comply with CARU’s Self-Regulatory Guidelines for Children’s Advertising.

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Decision

BBB National Programs’ Privacy Watchdog Ensures Shein Adheres to Digital Advertising Privacy Best Practices

McLean, VA – April 11, 2024 - The Digital Advertising Accountability Program (DAAP) worked with global fast fashion retailer, Shein to bring its website and mobile apps into compliance with the Digital Advertising Alliance’s (DAA) Self-Regulatory Principles for online interest-based advertising (IBA). 

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Events