Penalty Amount
$16,500,000
The FTC finalized an order against Avast for selling consumers' web browsing data for advertising after promising privacy protection. Avast must pay $16.5 million, is banned from selling such data, must delete collected data, obtain consent, notify consumers, and implement a privacy program.
Avast must pay $16.5 million, is prohibited from selling or licensing web browsing data for advertising, must delete all transferred browsing data, obtain affirmative consent before selling data from non-Avast products, notify affected consumers, and implement a comprehensive privacy program.
In-house legal teams should review all vendor agreements (especially those involving data sharing or licensing), customer-facing agreements (privacy policies, terms of service), and any data processing agreements. Focus on clauses governing data sharing, licensing, or sale; consent mechanisms; data retention and deletion obligations; and representations regarding privacy protections. Changes may be needed to explicitly prohibit the sale or licensing of browsing data for advertising, mandate clear and affirmative consumer consent before any such sharing, require deletion of previously collected browsing data, and incorporate obligations to implement a comprehensive privacy program consistent with the FTC order.
Entity
Avast Limited
Also known as: Avast
Industry
TechnologyOfficial Press Release
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/06/ftc-finalizes-order-avast-banning-it-selling-or-licensing-web-browsing-data-advertising-requiring-it
202 3033 avast final consent package
https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/202_3033_-_avast_final_consent_package.pdf
Federal Trade Commission Enforcement Page
https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement
"Avast Limited"
"$16.5 million"
"sold it without adequate notice and without consumer consent"
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$106.8M
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The FTC alleged that Greenway Auto Group advertised vehicle prices thousands of dollars below the amounts consumers actually paid and used mailers falsely suggesting recipients had won cash prizes. Greenway agreed to an order requiring transparent pricing and prohibiting deceptive prize mailers and other misrepresentations; the press release does not state a monetary penalty.