The Federal Trade Commission appears poised for more enforcement actions related to new technologies. On, March 23, 2015, The FTC announced on its Business Blog the formation of the Office of Technology Research and Investigation (the "OTRI").1. The FTC reports that the OTRI "will take on an even broader mandate [than the Mobile Technology Unit created a few years ago] and be staffed with additional technologists."
FTC job notices describe the OTRI as building upon the work of the Mobile Technology Unit "by tackling an even broader array of investigative research on technology issues involving all facets of the FTC's consumer protection mission, including privacy, data security, connected cars, smart homes, algorithmic transparency, emerging payment methods, big data, and the Internet of Things."2
The FTC's creation of the new office is not surprising given the turf war that has emerged since the Federal Communications Commission classified Internet providers as public utilities. The FTC also recently testified before Congress on the proposed data security legislation, including a summary of the FTC's existing authority related to data security under the FTC Act.3 In coming months businesses are likely to see the OTRI testing its new wings with enforcement actions targeting data privacy and emerging technologies.
Footnotes
1.See Jessica Rich, Bureau of Consumer Protection, "BCP's Office of Technology Research and Investigation: The next generation in consumer protection," Business Blog (March 23, 1015).
2.See Ashkan Soltani, Chief Technologist, Federal Trade Commission, "Booting up a new research office at the FTC," Tech@FTC (March 23, 1015).
3.See Press Release, "FTC Testifies on Proposed Data Security Legislation Before House Energy and Commerce Committee's Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade Subcommittee," Federal Trade Commission (March 18, 2015).
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