Socially Aware

March 08, 2018 - Privacy, Cloud Computing, Litigation
U.S. v. Microsoft Leaves SCOTUS Between a Rock and a Hard Place
In February the U.S Supreme Court heard oral arguments in United States v. Microsoft. At issue is Microsoft’s challenge to a warrant issued by a U.S. court directing it to produce emails stored in Ireland. With implications for government investigations, privacy law, and multi-national tech
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February 07, 2018 - Class Actions, Data Security, Privacy, Litigation
Amended California Law Expands Requirements for Consumer Subscriptions
By: Anthony M. Ramirez and Julie O'Neill
Companies that offer services, whether online or offline, to consumers on a subscription or other automatic renewal basis should be aware that such offers are heavily regulated at both the federal and state levels. A recent amendment to Section 17602 of California’s Business and
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January 23, 2018 - Advertising, Endorsement Guides, Electronic Contracts, Influencer Marketing, Marketing, Privacy, Social Media Policy, Event, User-Generated Content, Compliance, Online Endorsements
Social Media 2018: Addressing Corporate Risks
As Socially Aware readers know, social media is transforming the way companies interact with consumers. Learn how to make the most of these online opportunities while minimizing your company’s legal risks at Practising Law Institute’s (PLI) 2018 Social Media conference, to be held in San
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January 18, 2018 - Internet of Things, Data Security, Privacy, Cybersecurity, Product Liability, Compliance
Connected Devices Bring New Product Liability Challenges
By: Erin M. Bosman and Julie Y. Park
“My Google Home Mini was inadvertently spying on me 24/7 due to a hardware flaw,” wrote a tech blogger who purchased Google Inc.’s latest internet of things (IoT) device. Following the incident, a pact of consumer advocacy groups insisted the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
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January 04, 2018 - Advertising, Blockchain, Internet of Things, Patent, European Union, Privacy, UK, Copyright, Section 230 Safe Harbor, IP, Litigation
2018: Predictions From Socially Aware’s Editors and Contributors
By: Aaron P. Rubin
Happy 2018 to our readers! It has become a Socially Aware tradition to start the New Year with some predictions from our editors and contributors. With smart contracts on the horizon, the Internet of Things and cryptocurrencies in the spotlight, and a number of
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November 28, 2017 - Blockchain, Cyberbullying, Privacy, Right To Be Forgotten, Section 230 Safe Harbor, Free Speech, Autonomous Vehicles
Social Links: Proposed legislation to outlaw “catfishing” & protect young Web users; blockchain technology’s impact on marketing
By: Aaron P. Rubin
The government in Indonesia has warned the world’s biggest social media providers that they risk being banned in that country if they don’t block pornography and other content deemed obscene. A member of the House of Lords has proposed an amendment to the U.K.’s
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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
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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
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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
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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
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