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The Trace Team

The Federal Trade Commission recently released its 2017 update on Privacy & Data Security. The FTC has a broad range of law enforcement responsibilities in protecting consumers and competition across the U.S. economy, among those is prohibiting unfair or deceptive trade practices. In 2017 there were major players in the U.S. marketplace which found themselves in the FTC's crosshairs.

Uber Technologies settled FTC charges that it had deceived consumers in how they protected customer's private information as well as their driver data. If you utilized Uber in recent years, there's a chance your personal information (phone number, credit card data, etc.) has been compromised. Part of the FTC's complaint against Uber concerned how they store consumer data in the cloud. Uber utilized a third party cloud service, but failed to require multiple authentication factors for access to the data. Although Uber had implemented "... an automated system for monitoring employee access to consumer personal information, the company stopped using it less than a year after it was put in place ..." in December 2014. The FTC and Uber entered a consent agreement that requires implementation of an extensive privacy program and subject's Uber to regular, independent audits.

A 38-year old former payroll supervisor for the Louisiana Supreme Court was recently sentenced for stealing $116,000 from the state, after her conviction for creating fake payroll vouchers using the identities of four retired judges who fill in on the courts' docket when other judges are not available. She deposited the pay checks into bank accounts that she controlled. She received a four year suspended prison sentence along with four years of inactive probation. She has repaid $70,000 of the pilfered funds and was ordered to repay the remainder as part of her sentence. If she successfully completes her probation and repays the money, she will be eligible to expunge the felony conviction. Sometimes, second acts are possible.