Welcome to Socially Aware

Socially Aware is devoted to the law and business of social media, proactively addressing emerging issues and keeping our clients informed of new developments. We cover fields such as artificial intelligence, privacy and data security, Section 230, intellectual property, and much more.

November 08, 2017 - Privacy, Stored Communications Act, Big Data, Compliance
SCOTUS to Resolve Lower-Court Dispute Over U.S. Warrants Seeking Foreign-Stored User Data
The U.S. Supreme Court on Oct. 16, 2017, announced it had granted the government’s petition for certiorari in United States v. Microsoft and will hear a case this Term that could have lasting implications for how technology companies interact with the U.S government and
... ›
November 07, 2017 - M&A
Pace of M&A Deals in Social Media Industry Slows After Record Year
By: Aaron P. Rubin
Technology-company M&A slowed down significantly over the last year, with deal volume down by 15% across the globe in Q3 of 2017 compared to Q3 of 2016, and a $37 billion decline to $119 billion in Q3 2017 tech-company deal value compared to the
... ›
November 01, 2017 - Advertising, Data Security, Influencer Marketing, Marketing, Privacy
Brands Beware: FTC Continues Campaign on Social Media Influencer Disclosures
By: Julie O'Neill
With much fanfare , the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) continues to take actions relating to so-called “social media influencers” who allegedly fail to disclose material connections to the products or brands they endorse. Recurring enforcement actions and guidance—and the FTC’s ongoing promotion of its
... ›
October 18, 2017 - Blockchain, Privacy, IP
Social Links: Russia’s threat to block Facebook; Google’s publisher-friendly move; a cease-and-desist letter worth emulating
By: Aaron P. Rubin
As part of a new tracking system, the Department of Homeland Security will be keeping records of immigrants’ social media handles and search results. Russia to Facebook: Turn over user-information or risk being blocked. Google is ending a policy that required news sites to
... ›
October 05, 2017 - Artificial Intelligence, Autonomous Vehicles
Yes, the Trolley IS a Problem
Recently, the “trolley problem,” a decades-old thought experiment in moral philosophy, has been enjoying a second career of sorts, appearing in nightmare visions of a future in which cars make life-and-death decisions for us. Among many driverless car experts, however, talk of trolleys is
... ›
September 22, 2017 - Advertising, Artificial Intelligence, European Union, FTC, Influencer Marketing, Privacy, UK, Employment Law, Online Endorsements
Social Links: Social media influencers earn big bucks for endorsements, while the FTC settles a suit against influencers; European court sides with employee axed over emails reviewed by employer
By: Aaron P. Rubin
In 2016, brands spent $570 million on social influencer endorsements on Instagram alone. This recode article takes a looks at how much influencers with certain followings can command, and whether they’re worth the investment. And don’t overlook the legal issues associated with the use
... ›
September 11, 2017 - Blockchain
The Blockchain Revolution
By: Aaron P. Rubin
Blockchain is shaping up as one of the most disruptive IT technologies since the Internet itself, with broad-ranging applications that could transform businesses across the spectrum. Companies that ignore the opportunities—and challenges—created by blockchain and cryptocurrencies may find themselves left behind as more nimble
... ›
September 06, 2017 - Blockchain, Cyberbullying, Marketing, Employment Law, Section 230 Safe Harbor, Ethics
Social Links: Bills that would take a bite out of §230; court opinion on social media & ethics; using evidence on social media to determine unemployment benefits eligibility
By: Aaron P. Rubin
A federal appeals court in Miami held that a judge needn’t necessarily recuse herself from a case being argued by a lawyer with whom the judge is merely Facebook “friends.” Bills in both houses of Congress propose amending Section 230 of the Communications Decency
... ›
September 05, 2017 - FTC, Data Security, Cybersecurity, Compliance
More Insight From the FTC on Data Security—or More of the Same?
By: Julie O'Neill
Recent challenges to the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) authority to police data security practices have criticized the agency’s failure to provide adequate guidance to companies. In other words, the criticism goes, businesses do not know what they need to do to avoid a charge
... ›
August 30, 2017 - DMCA, User-Generated Content, Copyright
Zazzle Fizzles: Website Operator Denied Copyright Safe Harbor Protection for Its Sale of Physical Products Featuring User-Generated Images
We discussed last year the trend toward companies seeking to monetize user-generated content. A recent Central District of California decision in Greg Young Publishing, Inc. v. Zazzle, Inc. serves as an important reminder of the serious risks that can arise from seeking to commercially
... ›

Welcome to Socially Aware

SCOTUS to Resolve Lower-Court Dispute Over U.S. Warrants Seeking Foreign-Stored User Data

Pace of M&A Deals in Social Media Industry Slows After Record Year

By: Aaron P. Rubin

Brands Beware: FTC Continues Campaign on Social Media Influencer Disclosures

By: Julie O'Neill

Social Links: Russia’s threat to block Facebook; Google’s publisher-friendly move; a cease-and-desist letter worth emulating

By: Aaron P. Rubin

Yes, the Trolley IS a Problem

Social Links: Social media influencers earn big bucks for endorsements, while the FTC settles a suit against influencers; European court sides with employee axed over emails reviewed by employer

By: Aaron P. Rubin

The Blockchain Revolution

By: Aaron P. Rubin

Social Links: Bills that would take a bite out of §230; court opinion on social media & ethics; using evidence on social media to determine unemployment benefits eligibility

By: Aaron P. Rubin

More Insight From the FTC on Data Security—or More of the Same?

By: Julie O'Neill

Zazzle Fizzles: Website Operator Denied Copyright Safe Harbor Protection for Its Sale of Physical Products Featuring User-Generated Images