Penalty Amount
$275,000
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong announced a $275,000 settlement with TaxAct, an online tax preparation company, over allegations that between January 2018 and December 2022, TaxAct improperly disclosed detailed customer financial information to Meta and Google through third-party tracking technologies without notifying taxpayers. The settlement requires TaxAct to pay $275,000 and implement new third-party tracking compliance measures, including a review committee, written policies, a tag monitoring system, and two independent third-party audits.
TaxAct must pay $275,000 to the state of Connecticut. The settlement also requires TaxAct to create a review committee and written policies to govern third-party tracking technologies, maintain data documentation of tracked data points, implement a tag monitoring system to scan the website, and obtain two independent third-party audits of its tracking compliance program.
In-house legal teams should review vendor agreements with marketing, analytics, and advertising technology providers (such as Meta and Google) to ensure data processing agreements contain strict purpose limitations prohibiting use of customer data for the vendor's own purposes. Privacy policies and notices should be cross-referenced against actual data sharing practices, and contracts should include audit rights, tag management governance, and compliance certification obligations. Tax preparation and other financial services companies should also review their website terms, cookie consent mechanisms, and data retention policies to ensure they align with stated privacy commitments and applicable state law.
Entity
TaxAct
Industry
Financial Services"Texas-based online tax preparation company TaxAct"
"$275,000 settlement"
"TaxAct improperly disclosed to Meta and Google detailed financial information for its customers"
"TaxAct did not inform taxpayers before sharing their information"
"the settlement requires strong new third-party tracking compliance terms"
"the settlement requires that TaxAct obtain two independent third-party audits of its third-party tracking compliance program"
Attorney General Tong and a coalition of 21 attorneys general and Pennsylvania filed lawsuits against the U.S. Department of Transportation, FMCSA, and DHS to block demands for the personal information of 17 million CDL drivers. The lawsuits allege violations of federal privacy laws and the Administrative Procedure Act, and seek an emergency order to prevent the data transfer.
Attorney General William Tong and a coalition of 10 attorneys general filed a lawsuit challenging a new OCC rule that preempts state laws requiring national banks to pay interest on homeowners' mortgage escrow accounts. The lawsuit argues the OCC ignored federal court decisions and bypassed safeguards, and seeks to block the rule.
Attorney General Tong joined a coalition of 17 attorneys general in sending letters to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Reserve Board, urging them to deny Opportunity Financial's application to acquire BNC National Bank. The merger would grant OppFi a national bank charter, allowing it to circumvent state lending laws and charge triple-digit interest rates, posing risks to consumers and the banking system.
The court granted the States' motion finding that Nexstar violated the preliminary injunction by placing current or former Nexstar executives on TEGNA's Board of Directors. The court ordered regular reporting to the States and appointed a special master to oversee compliance.
Attorney General William Tong co-led a coalition of 34 attorneys general in a letter to congressional leaders urging them to preserve the federal redefinition of hemp and reject efforts to weaken reforms addressing intoxicating hemp-derived products. The coalition warns that reopening the loophole would create regulatory uncertainty, compromise public safety, and allow unregulated intoxicating hemp products to return to the marketplace.
$400.0M
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison joined a coalition of 43 states and territories in announcing a $400 million settlement in principle with Sandoz Inc. to resolve allegations that the generic drug manufacturer engaged in conspiracies to artificially inflate and manipulate prices, reduce competition, and unreasonably restrain trade for numerous generic prescription drugs. Sandoz will pay approximately $469 million total including prior settlements, and has agreed to injunctive terms and internal reforms.