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"
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of states and local governments in filing suit against NHTSA over its rule weakening fuel economy standards for new passenger cars and light trucks. The lawsuit alleges the rule violates the agency’s statutory mandate and the Administrative Procedure Act; no penalty or final remedy is reported.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong joined a multistate coalition suing the EPA over its repeal of greenhouse gas pollution limits for power plants and separately filed a notice of intent to sue over regulation of existing gas plants. The coalition asks the court to overturn the repeal and restore the protections; the release reports no monetary penalty or final order.
$400.0M
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong announced a $400 million settlement with Sandoz Inc. and Fougera Pharmaceuticals Inc. resolving allegations that the generic drug manufacturers conspired to inflate prices, limit competition, and restrain trade. The settlement includes consumer restitution and injunctive reforms; court approval was being sought.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 21 attorneys general in submitting a comment letter opposing a DHS rule that allows certain affirmative asylum applications to be referred to removal proceedings without an asylum officer interview. The coalition argues the rule violates federal law and harms asylum seekers, including unaccompanied children; this was a policy opposition letter, not a privacy enforcement action.
Connecticut and Massachusetts co-led a coalition protest urging FERC to reject the proposed NextEra Energy-Dominion Energy merger. The coalition argued that the merger could increase market power and threaten energy affordability, reliability, and competition; the release does not report a final enforcement decision or penalty.
Connecticut officials warned residents about potential home improvement scams before an approaching nor’easter, including unlicensed contractors, high-pressure sales tactics, and demands for full payment upfront. The release provides consumer guidance on checking contractors and contract requirements; it does not announce an enforcement action or penalty against a named entity.