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.

March 08, 2017 - Event
Join us at SXSW Interactive 2017!
Socially Aware editors John Delaney and Aaron Rubin will be in Austin, Texas for SXSW Interactive from March 10th to March 15th. They plan to “live tweet” a number of the presentations via our @MoFoSocMedia Twitter account. If you will be in Austin for SXSW
... ›
March 07, 2017 - Internet of Things, Data Security, Privacy
Watch Out: The Federal Trade Commission Continues to Watch the (Alleged) Watchers
By: Julie O'Neill
If your company collects information regarding consumers though Internet-connected devices, you will want to take note of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) recent privacy-related settlement (brought in conjunction with the New Jersey Attorney General) with smart TV manufacturer Vizio, Inc. The settlement is significant
... ›
March 07, 2017 - First Amendment, Cyberbullying, Marketing, Right To Be Forgotten, Ethics, Free Speech
Social Links: YouTube reaches major milestone; Google tries to ferret out hate speech; justices consider constitutionality of barring social media access
By: Aaron P. Rubin
Google unveiled a new tool designed to combat toxic speech online by assessing the language commenters use, as opposed to the ideas they express. Is a state law banning sex offenders from social media unconstitutional? Based on their comments during oral arguments in Packingham
... ›
February 24, 2017 - Cyberbullying, Ethics, Wearable Computers
Social Links: Google Maps gets social; Twitter puts trolls in time out; today’s teens take to chat rooms
By: Aaron P. Rubin
New York City’s Conflicts of Interest Board has issued guidelines prohibiting elected officials from using official social media accounts for political purposes or having their staff draft content for their personal social media accounts. Congress has begun paving the way for the deployment of
... ›
February 23, 2017 - Data Security, Privacy, Stored Communications Act
Google Ordered to Comply with Warrant for Foreign-Stored User Data
In a major development for cloud and other data storage providers, and further complicating the legal landscape for the cross-border handling of data, a Federal Magistrate Judge in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania ruled for the Department of Justice and ordered Google, Inc., to
... ›
February 16, 2017 - European Union, Privacy
The Hague District Court’s WhatsApp Decision Creates Concerns for Mobile App Developers
By: Alex van der Wolk
Can the mere offering of a mobile app subject the provider of such app to the privacy laws of countries in the European Union (EU)—even if the provider does not have any establishments or presence in the EU? The answer from the District Court
... ›
February 14, 2017 - FTC, Marketing
FTC Report Reinforces the Rules for Cross-Device Tracking
By: Julie O'Neill
Well over a year after holding a workshop addressing privacy issues associated with cross-device tracking, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) staff have issued a report. The report sets the stage by describing how cross-device tracking works, noting its “benefits and challenges,” and reviewing (and largely
... ›
February 12, 2017 - Advertising, Privacy, Litigation
Social Links: NJ court allows police to read suspects’ private messages; tech companies’ increased control over users’ devices; an app that blocks political posts
By: Aaron P. Rubin
A New Jersey court rules that state police can examine a suspect’s private social media messages without having to apply for an order under the state’s wiretapping laws. Technology companies are exercising a lot of control ever over users’ devices remotely, and it’s implicating privacy
... ›
February 10, 2017 - Marketing, Employment Law, Ethics, Compliance
Join Us at the Social Media 2017: Addressing Corporate Risks Conference on February 15th
In the wake of a successful social media conference in San Francisco, Socially Aware co-editors John Delaney and Aaron Rubin are revved up and ready to chair (John) and present (Aaron and John) at another Practicing Law Institute (PLI) 2017 Social Media conference! This one
... ›
February 08, 2017 - Data Security, UK, Section 230 Safe Harbor, Compliance, Litigation
Now Available: The February Issue of Our Socially Aware Newsletter
By: Aaron P. Rubin
The latest issue of our Socially Aware newsletter is now available here. In this edition,we examine a spate of court decisions that appear to rein in the historically broad scope of the Communications Decency Act’s Section 230 safe harbor for website operators; we outline
... ›

Welcome to Socially Aware

Join us at SXSW Interactive 2017!

Watch Out: The Federal Trade Commission Continues to Watch the (Alleged) Watchers

By: Julie O'Neill

Social Links: YouTube reaches major milestone; Google tries to ferret out hate speech; justices consider constitutionality of barring social media access

By: Aaron P. Rubin

Social Links: Google Maps gets social; Twitter puts trolls in time out; today’s teens take to chat rooms

By: Aaron P. Rubin

Google Ordered to Comply with Warrant for Foreign-Stored User Data

The Hague District Court’s WhatsApp Decision Creates Concerns for Mobile App Developers

By: Alex van der Wolk

FTC Report Reinforces the Rules for Cross-Device Tracking

By: Julie O'Neill

Social Links: NJ court allows police to read suspects’ private messages; tech companies’ increased control over users’ devices; an app that blocks political posts

By: Aaron P. Rubin

Join Us at the Social Media 2017: Addressing Corporate Risks Conference on February 15th

Now Available: The February Issue of Our Socially Aware Newsletter

By: Aaron P. Rubin