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

Sharing Holiday Cheer (but Not a Child’s Personal Information)

Not surprisingly, cell phones, connected toys, and toys advertised on social media top wish lists of kids everywhere. To help ensure your holiday shopping experiences are as safe as possible, the team at CARU put together some holiday tips.
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Blog

Getting Political and Going Digital: Analyzing Political Digital Advertising Compliance

When it comes to political advertising, are consumers getting an appropriate level of disclosure and meaningful notice? Are consumers aware of their choices for opting out of viewing the ads? Are stakeholders in the political advertising space compliant? The Digital Advertising Accountability Program is analyzing this year's political advertising trends.
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Blog

Cohesive Governance of Cybersecurity and Data Privacy: A Value Proposition for Businesses

Happy Cybersecurity Awareness Month! With the convergence of laws and new regulations emerging in the data privacy and security space, there is increasing tension in how to govern data privacy and cybersecurity to ensure a cohesive, continued alignment. So where should companies focus: cybersecurity, privacy, or both?
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Blog

Privacy Compliance is Complicated and It Matters

As U.S.-based companies expand operations, understanding and complying with privacy laws becomes essential. Given the variation of privacy laws across different states and the globe, it is crucial for U.S. companies to stay informed.
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Podcast

Privacy Year In Review: Laws, the Impact, and the Elephant in the Room

For the season finale of Privacy Abbreviated, host Dona Fraser is joined by friend Morgan Reed, President of The App Association to discuss a year in review of privacy. Dona and Morgan discuss it all, from major developments in regulatory and enforcement actions, the need for comprehensive U.S. privacy and understanding of global privacy laws, to children’s privacy and...
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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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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 Recommends JustPlay Discontinue or Modify Daisy the Yoga Goat Claims

New York, NY – December 19, 2024 - The Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) launched an investigation into advertising for Just Play’s furReal Daisy the Yoga Goat seeking to determine if the toy’s product packaging and commercial advertisements comply with CARU’s Self-Regulatory Guidelines for Children’s Advertising.

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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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Events